tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89357271222483737812024-02-07T03:58:39.838-08:00Healthy lifeHealthy Blog is blog containing information about health to you allAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comBlogger224920012500tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-7820868187484533882009-09-08T14:14:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:31.710-08:00What is a Friend?I have become very confused oevr this. It seems that what I think (have to be easy there) and others is different. Maybe because it is more difficult to talkto me and keep things on track and the fact that I get angry easier has changed things betweeen me and others. I always thought and still do that you are honest totally with a friend and not afraid to be calllled on your BS and not afraid to call them on it. That seems to be a problem in theis world today. It is costing me friends. Even trying to explain things to them doe snot work. I guess this is going to be a new part of my life that I am going to have as this keeps getting harder.<br /><br />I am still waiting for pics and info to start the memorial post for those that have proceeded me and are now at rest. I think they are the faces of this disease. Their fight was bvaliant and brave, they fought and tried against a foe that is not beatable at this time. They are my heroes for hanging in ass long as they could. They helpeed to pave the road I have to travel and I thank them for making it a little easier for me. The millions that suffer now and to come are my family now.<br /><br />This is my story on this blog, but I want it to be a home for you as well. That is why things haveeeve ben changing and will continue to do so. Those of you that take care of us extreemely unpredictable persons, need an outlet and I am going to try and succeed with you help making this blog one outlet for you. It maybe moving to more of a website and changing the address, so that it can be more interactive for you who take the time to read my ramblings and need to converse with otherers in your position.<br /><br />I have to stop now, my brain is not holding thoughts rifht now.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-58626411435729024952009-09-05T12:14:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:19.814-08:00If I make it through September!My life has turned into a NASCAR speedway and sometimes I feel like I’m driving a tricycle. It leaves me in danger of being pancaked by the big boys.<br /><br />I’m not sure how it got to be September already. What happened to summer? Please don’t tell me I Rip Van Winkled right past it. Considering my sleep deprivation, that doesn’t seem logical. Somehow I survived the summer without once shinnying into a swimsuit, visiting a beach, suffering heat stroke at Silver Dollar City (so much for season tickets!) or for that matter, turning lobster-red from a sunburn. What a waste of summer months, and uh-huh-oh summer nights.<br /><br />I thought Halloween was supposed to be scary, but it doesn’t come close to the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach when I flipped the calendar page and saw all the scribble marks. Here I am on Labor Day weekend, laboring, trying to catch up to all the events that are now staring me in the face.<br /><br />Today started with a radio program “Open Mike” where Chris and I talked about Alzheimer’s and our September 19 Memory Walk. Then, I stopped off at the office to use high speed Internet and my duo screens to send emails and media releases for two different organizations. After four hours, I made a small dent in my calendar to-do list.<br /><br />I only have fourteen “events” written on my calendar, so shouldn’t that mean I have more free time than scheduled time? That might be true if they were events where I just had to show up, but it doesn’t work that way for those of us on the planning committee or in charge. Oh, and let’s not forget the 101 items that didn’t make the official calendar. That would be those things I intend to do if I have time.<br /><br />One of the best things about hectic life is I never have time to be bored, or even think about being bored. My goal on Wellsphere is to take a thirty-minute stress break five times a week. That doesn’t seem like too lofty a goal until I actually went through the stress of trying to find a spare thirty minutes.<br /><br />In the meantime, I’ll just keep peddling until I make it through September, and then, I can relax awhile. After all, I have two free weekends in October. Yes, if I make it through September, I’ll be fine.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-34170428079763248782009-09-01T13:01:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:19.899-08:00Ted and Norma: Promises to Keep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg782NiGgegaP7jGbtzmiP9QjPKiyahK8E7rv6MRTwHl8QvYbwH3ZcbZ_IIZI6t7bakjty2NVtMNWafJYCJg9d_-qlp2IdBDJ-VdeqlJ1r8Jm-VOBHiw4o7MyN_zmMFOWWf3s0J0WKiYw/s1600-h/Distler1_WEB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376593409075290210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 170px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg782NiGgegaP7jGbtzmiP9QjPKiyahK8E7rv6MRTwHl8QvYbwH3ZcbZ_IIZI6t7bakjty2NVtMNWafJYCJg9d_-qlp2IdBDJ-VdeqlJ1r8Jm-VOBHiw4o7MyN_zmMFOWWf3s0J0WKiYw/s320/Distler1_WEB.jpg" border="0" /></a>On October 3, Ted Distler and his lovely wife, Norma, will celebrate 50 years of marriage. I admire Ted for his devotion to Norma and how he has held her hand and guided her through the quagmire of early-onset Alzheimer’s.<br /><br />Besides being a devoted husband, Ted honors Norma by being a tireless volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association Mid-Missouri Chapter. We met in 1999 when Ted was at the helm of the Jefferson City Memory Walk and I coordinated the Sedalia Memory Walk. Ted was a formidable fundraiser, and I made a valiant effort to stay in the competition. Although we squared off like championship boxers, we were cheerleaders for each other as we joined forces for a common cause. Our ultimate goal was to help support families facing Alzheimer’s and a cure for their loved ones, and our loved ones. We knew our local Chapter was providing that support for Mid-Missouri families.<br /><br />Ted and I met for coffee one day and worked on a story for <em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love.</em> Norma and Ted’s story of unconditional love, courage, and devotion is posted on the Mid-Missouri Chapter’s website at <a href="http://www.alz.org/mid-missouri/in_my_community_17573.asp">http://www.alz.org/mid-missouri/in_my_community_17573.asp</a>.<br /><br />Congratulations, Ted and Norma! I wish you blessings and love with each step of your journey.<br /><br />------<br />"Promises to Keep" published in <em>Alzheimer's Anthology of Unconditional Love</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-6981337292533931752009-09-01T10:37:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:31.793-08:00Pushy Friends!I am glad I have some, they help remind me of what my postit notes seem to fail to do. I have not written in while. I have been elsewhere lately, not ecxalty sure where, but I have been there. Getting more tests, health is well not what is used to be. Age this disease, rotten lyfestyle when I was youndger who knows, I do not. What is starting to show more offten then not, is I have no idea what day it is and yesterday seems not to have happened. Hard to explain. But there is no longer any time frame in my brain to connnect things to, so they all seem recent and mixed up. True moments of knowing exactly what I am thinking or doing are growing fewer by the day. This is not a lot of fun and am starting to looose my humor about it. But I am getting to meet someone new each day in the mirror, so I guess that is ok.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-82094113607111071562009-08-29T11:16:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:19.987-08:00Vacation—Recharging Batteries<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70U81hypPvG9PPBhuAs9LvrnlXxxOl8ekoz3ogaG45sRCSRoDWGs3dQjfYlarmMllFYIOj5b-5tLrc4aqKZWCryIqK8MqI1EcGkgX5My-5rBYJZiHf6zzUVAKged0fEoGQM9mYvtXPKU/s1600-h/log.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375465922841879714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70U81hypPvG9PPBhuAs9LvrnlXxxOl8ekoz3ogaG45sRCSRoDWGs3dQjfYlarmMllFYIOj5b-5tLrc4aqKZWCryIqK8MqI1EcGkgX5My-5rBYJZiHf6zzUVAKged0fEoGQM9mYvtXPKU/s320/log.jpg" border="0" /></a>Colorado mountain pines whisper my name and beckon me to the quiet hush of a cool mountain morning. I always referred to vacation as a time to recharge my batteries, but it doesn’t have quite the same meaning it used to have.<br /><br />I fell in love with the mountains on our first camping trip in 1983. To humor Jim, I agreed to camp at the Moraine Park campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park. Everyone expected us to be home after a few days because, to put it mildly, I never considered camping to be a relaxing experience. Sleeping on a hard surface in extreme Missouri heat, while slapping mosquitoes, was not my idea of fun.<br /><br />Jim was an accomplished camper from a lifetime of outdoors adventures. He loved the Colorado mountains and each year we set aside a week to get away from everyday stress and recharge our spiritual batteries.<br /><br />Jim spoiled me on our vacations. On cool Colorado mornings, he would rise before the sun peeked over the mountains, build a campfire, and brew coffee. Jim would open the van door, and hand me a cup of coffee while I huddled under the heavy quilts in bed.<br /><br />“Breakfast is almost ready, Princess,” Jim would say. The scent of bacon frying on the Coleman camp stove promised a tasty, hearty meal. “Get up sleepy, head, we are in the mountains!” Joy would shine on Jim’s face as we planned the day—an aerial tramway ride, hiking, and an early evening drive through the park to watch deer and elk.<br /><br />In retrospect, I can measure the progression of Jim’s dementia by our trips to Colorado. By 1997, camping was beyond Jim’s capabilities and although we still drove to our beloved mountains, we stayed in a hotel. Then, the trips ended as Jim became more confused and eventually entered long-term care.<br /><br />After Jim’s death in 2005, I made a bittersweet return to the mountains. Long’s Peak looked the same, but I noticed other changes. We used to walk around the Beaver Pond to watch ducks and fish in the clear water below. Now, a small trickle moves past a truncated ramp near the reclaimed meadow. A drive up the Big Thompson doesn’t seem as great without browsing the Glen Comfort store filled with exquisite Native American pottery and storytellers.<br /><br />Now, instead of camping at Moraine Park, I find a hotel with high speed Internet. The batteries I recharge are in my Dell netbook, camera, and cell phone. Instead of getting away from it all, I take it all with me.<br /><br />Maybe it’s my age, but I find some of the changes to be good. I can idealize past vacations through selective memory, but a lot is to be said for having a private bathroom, satellite TV, air conditioning or heat as needed and a comfortable bed. The cell phone and Internet keep me from getting behind on everything happening back home. Now, I can take hundreds of pictures on my camera and never have to buy a roll of film.<br /><br />Yes, many things have changed, but vacation shouldn’t be an attempt to recapture the past. It should be a time for new experiences, to breathe the fresh air of today and appreciate the beauty of now. When I look at the majestic view from Trail Ridge Road or gaze at the reflection of the mountains in Bear Lake, I feel a small charge of electric current flow through my spiritual self. Can that be my batteries recharging?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-54373306706439855372009-08-20T18:57:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:31.876-08:00Time Marches OnMy wife and I were discusing what cognaitve and occupational skills meant. Because they confuse me. Of course cognaitve is thinking, record keeping, more complex problem solving, well forget hat one. Occupational are those things such as typing, cooking, walking and general doing things. Well we looose on that score to. At least I still can brush my teeeth without putting the brush up my nose. That is it for today, whatelse is there.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-77933592223240858232009-08-16T08:41:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.158-08:00Country Living—Not Just for FarmersThe State Fair started Thursday with a parade and $1 night. By the time I got off work at 6:00, we had already heard that traffic was snarled and you couldn’t get close to the parade route. Without giving it a second thought, I headed north toward home avoiding the whole mess, fair and all.<br /><br /> Our fair always has a theme, and this year the theme is “Rural Lifestyles Showcase” with an emphasis on “Country Living—Not Just for Farmers.” I’m not sure which is really the theme, but it would seem that the Children’s Barnyard beat out the carnival for top billing this year.<br /><br />The State Fair changes everything in Sedalia and puts a crimp in our rural lifestyle for the duration. Getting across town usually takes about fifteen minutes on a high traffic day, but during the fair, traffic jams up from one end of town to the other. We have two kinds of locals—those who spend a lot of time at the fair, and those who leave town.<br /><br />I’ve lived in Sedalia since 1972, and I’ve seen a lot of fairs come and go. I have fond memories of Tammy Wynette singing to Jim, a lot of great concerts, free shows at the Bud tent, herding kids through the carnival, corndogs, ice cream and snow cones.<br /><br />The last time Jim went to the fair, his dementia had advanced to the point he needed to be supervised. I had asked Jim if he wanted to go to the Clint Black concert with me and he emphatically declined my invitation. I made arrangements for my niece, Rhonda, to go with me instead. At the last minute, Jim changed his mind. When I couldn’t get a seat anywhere near ours, I bought two tickets and asked his sister, Ginger, to take him. It was quite an adventure for Ginger to try to keep up with Jim. She had to be pretty quick to pay for the water he pulled out of the barrels in front of the vendor carts. After a busy afternoon and evening at the concert, we walked to the parking lot together. Rhonda and I pulled out, while Ginger and Jim sat in his Nissan truck. I figured they would be along soon. When they finally got home, Ginger told me she turned the lights on, but each time she let go of the knob, they went off. Jim laughed at her, but couldn’t tell her how to get them to stay on. They sat in the lot until Ginger finally figured it out.<br /><br />Yes, I have fond memories of the fair, but I also remember sunburns, blistered feet, sick kids, lightening and wind storms, and suffocating heat. A few years ago, I took my grandkids to the fair and if they hadn’t helped me find the car, I might still be wandering around the parking lot looking for it. Last year, I found my car after the Air Supply concert, but in the unlit parking lot, I drove around looking for a way out that didn’t involve a deep ditch. I finally followed another car out of the lot that seemed to know where the one driveway was. It almost makes me think I shouldn’t be attending the fair without supervision, at least after dark.<br /><br />I plan on working a few hours at the Rural Electric Co-op Building this year. That will probably be my one and only time at the country showcase. Other than that, I plan on avoiding town until the fair is over and our rural lifestyle returns.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-73167598794860253662009-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:31.960-08:00A Special Request.I would like to add a slide show to the side of my blog. I want to make this a memorial to those who have passed from this disease. So I am asking you to email me a picture of a friend or loved one with their name and birth and deceased years so I can make the slide show. I would like to honor those that have gone before me and paid the final price of this disease. Maybe their faces will prompt those who visit this blog to take some type of action or get involved some way to get those needed to help out (government????). I hope this is not offensive to anyone, if it is well then.<br /><br />Thank you in advance. jolynn1@cox.net is the email to send to.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-80399156393066229172009-08-09T08:54:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.075-08:00For You CaregiversHow I got this is beyond me but it may help some of you. You wil nk I did not write thsi spellings is to good. Hope it helps.<br /><br /><br /><br />Welcome to the Combination Care for Alzheimer's program<br /><br />As a caregiver for someone who is living with Alzheimer's disease, your role is to make sure your loved one is getting the most effective treatment possible. This means using a combination of approaches—medication combined with other activities can help expand what you're already doing. By enrolling in this program you'll have access to information and resources that can help you learn more about the disease and treatments you may not have considered, such as combination therapy. (Combination therapy is when two Alzheimer's disease medications are used together to increase the benefits of treatment).<br /><br />Based on what you told us when you enrolled, we have created a personalized Doctor Discussion Guide just for you. This guide offers important tips that can help you work with the doctor and talk openly about your loved one's condition and treatment plan. It also offers a series of questions that may help you have an informed conversation about how you can continue to enhance your loved one's care. As time<br />with the doctor can be limited, the personalized Doctor Discussion Guide can help you maximize your office visits.<br /><br />Please PRINT this Doctor Discussion Guide now, review it, and make note of any topics you'd like to discuss at your next doctor's appointment. Beyond this, you will also receive a series of personalized emails over the next two months, providing you with educational and supportive information on how you can enhance your loved one's care. They will also help you learn about ways you can look after yourself as you continue managing your loved one's disease.<br /><br />Doctor Discussion Guide:<br /><br />Your Role as a Caregiver Is Essential. As you continue to care for someone living with Alzheimer's disease, it's important that you work as a partner with the doctor. Your doctor relies on you to communicate openly about how your loved one is doing and how treatment is working. The more information you can provide the more you'll be able to help your loved one get treatment that will make life more manageable for both of you.<br /><br />One treatment option that you and your doctor may want to consider is combination therapy. In the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, doctors may prescribe a combination of medications, Namenda® (memantine HCl)* and Aricept® (donepezil)**, when they believe it will be more effective than a single Alzheimer's medicine alone. Use the following tips and questions to have an informed<br />discussion about whether combination therapy may be the right option for the person you care about.<br /><br />Questions to Ask the Doctor:<br />When it comes to treatment:<br /><br />1. What additional treatment options are available for Alzheimer's disease?<br />2. Based on the treatments we've tried before, is there anything more we can be doing?<br />3. I understand there is an option called "combination therapy." Can you tell me about it?<br />4. What are the benefits of combination therapy?<br /><br />When it comes to daily living:<br /><br />1. In addition to medication, are there any lifestyle changes that you would recommend?<br />2. What type of mental activities will help my loved one?<br />3. What type of physical activities will help my loved one?<br />4. Can you tell me what types of support services in my area are available to us, such as in-home assistance, adult day care, assisted living<br />facilities, etc.?<br />5. Can you recommend a support group in my area for caregivers like me?<br />Tips for Partnering with Your Doctor <br /><br />Keep track of changes in your loved one's behavior—It may seem obvious and you may have been doing it for a while, but it's very useful for you to track and tell your doctor about any changes in your loved one's behavior and symptoms such as increased difficulty in performing everyday tasks, agitation, or even increased deficits in intellect and reasoning. Ask family members or friends if they notice any changes that you may miss. And, if you aren't already, consider keeping a journal or diary to note any changes in behavior, so you can share this information with the doctor. You can also write notes on this Doctor Discussion Guide and take it with you to your next appointment.<br /><br />Prepare for doctor visits ahead of time—Taking the time to write down any questions or concerns you have can help make your office visits more productive. You may also want to bring articles or online resources that you have found with you to the appointments. This way the doctor is aware of what you're learning and where you are finding additional information.<br /><br />Listen carefully to the doctor and take notes—To be sure that you clearly understand everything the doctor tells you and that you remember it once you leave the appointment, it's helpful to take notes. You can take notes on this Doctor Discussion Guide. You may alsowant to consider using a tape recorder or bringing a friend or family member with you.<br /><br />Think about yourself too—It may be difficult to consider yourself when so much of your energy is spent caring for someone else, but by staying healthy you're better able to provide the care your loved one needs. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor what you can be doing to take care of yourself so you stay strong too.<br /><br />Notes:<br />*Namenda is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.<br />Namenda® (memantine HCl) is a registered trademark of Forest Laboratories, Inc.<br />**Aricept® (donepezil HCl tablets) is a registered trademark of Eisai Co., Ltd. and Pfizer Inc.<br />© 2008 Forest Laboratories, Inc.Welcome to the Combination Care for Alzheimer's program<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-83918858925370140872009-08-08T08:02:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.244-08:00Hurry Up Patience!On this hot August Saturday morning, I grabbed a cup of coffee and hopped onto the Internet to check email before making my weekly blog post. “Hopped” may be too bold a word to describe dial-up in a high-speed world. My computer looks like the one on the right in the commercial—the one that has loaded a sliver of data while the one on the left displays a complete picture.<br /><br />My first introduction to a computer was in 1980 when I was hired to enter customer information on an IBM System 34. I typed data onto a screen, pressed enter, and waited a half minute or so for the information to be added to the file and display the next input screen. It all seemed pretty fast compared to the handwritten sheets we filled out in the subscription department of <em>Full Cry</em> magazine.<br /><br />My home dial-up has become a virtual turtle in comparison to the high-speed Internet at work. To make matters more inequitable, this week our IT department installed a new Dell computer with two gigantic side-by-side screens. Now I can open up a dozen programs and slide displays around until I can see them all. It makes me feel like an interior decorator. Does my calendar look better here, or here? Oh, heck, I’ll just slide it on across to a different screen.<br /><br />On my dial-up, I find myself gritting my teeth while I wait for a graphic laden website to load. I remind myself that patience is a virtue, but why can’t it just hurry up?<br /><br />I’m torn between wanting speediness and longing for a more relaxed lifestyle. This Saturday morning is so different from the days I spent, lying in bed drinking coffee with Jim, waking up slowly and not being rushed to do anything. The two of us would fix breakfast and sit at our kitchen table laughing and making plans.<br /><br />Of course, as dementia changed the entire fabric of our lives, mornings sometimes started with Jim pouring water into the pot without a carafe to catch the coffee. Or I might wake up and find him missing, jump in the car and drive down the road looking for him. Relaxation changed to stress, and I discovered that for a person without patience, I learned to accept our life’s changes remarkably well. The Serenity Prayer became more than a plaque on my wall.<br /><br />I was never able to revert to my days of leisurely plans and now have a mental To-Do list that nags me constantly. Sometimes, I have to re-enforce my memory with a written list, an electronic reminder, and sticky notes plastered to everything. I need beeps, bells, and visual aids to keep me moving forward. All I need to figure out now is how to multitask multitasking.<br /><br />I became a blogger on Well<em>sphere</em> this week and Well<em>sphere</em> encourages members to set goals and share those goals with like-minded people. So far, I haven’t set any. My goals are planted in my head and can keep me awake at night with small encouragement. Doesn’t a goal of a more laid-back lifestyle seem counterintuitive?<br /><br />My brother-in-law, Terry, calls people who are constantly on the go “busybodies.” I find his meaning to be more fitting that the traditional definition of the word. I’ve become a busybody, and don’t have time to be patient. Heaven help me, I have a high-speed mind in a dial-up body!<br /><br />****<br />Check out my Profile and Blog on Well<em>sphere</em>! <a href="http://www.wellsphere.com/l-s-fisher-profile/143451">http://www.wellsphere.com/l-s-fisher-profile/143451</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-22203003238925856632009-08-03T06:19:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.329-08:00Compassionate AllowancesOn July 29, the Social Security Administration held a hearing on the need for Compassionate Allowances for individuals with younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, was among the experts who testified for a need to streamline the application process for Social Security Disability. By including younger-onset Alzheimer’s and related disorders on the list, the waiting period for benefits will be greatly reduced. In his testimony, Johns said, “Through the Compassionate Allowances process, Social Security can avoid the extra costs to the agency of numerous appeals and families can avoid the financial and emotional toll of going through a long decision process.”<br /><br />I was interested in the testimony about primary progressive aphasia. Although many people are aware of Alzheimer’s, including early onset, they are not aware of the lesser known related disorders. When I read the testimony of Darby Morhardt, LCSW, in support of primary progressive aphasia, I was surprised to find that Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) was placed on the Compassionate Allowances list in 2008, but not Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.<br /><br />Considering the difficulty of diagnosing which particular type of dementia a younger person may have, I don’t understand how FTD can be on the list and not Alzheimer’s and related disorders. Placing FTD on the list was a proper move, but that addition in itself speaks to recognition of the devastating financial and healthcare problems caused by dementia when individuals are too young to qualify for regular social security.<br /><br />If younger-onset Alzheimer’s and the lesser known related disorders are added to the list of Compassionate Allowances, it would speed up the social security process for this group who falls between the cracks.<br /><br />When Jim was diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, his attorney told us it could hurt his social security disability claim. We had gone through countless appeals for disability based on Jim’s loss of motion and constant pain in his neck and shoulder. We were in the final appeals process when Jim began to lose his ability to communicate. His aphasia made it impossible for him to present a coherent testimony at his own disability hearing. Our attorney asked us to wait in the hallway while he presented the successful appeal to the judge. We had been in the appeals process so long that Jim received back pay and retroactive Medicare.<br /><br />The very nature of dementia impedes the disability process. Jim was one of the lucky ones. Not lucky in receiving his social security in a timely manner. He was lucky because I had a job with health insurance.<br /><br />What happens to those with younger-onset dementia who get stalled in the process because they cannot speak for themselves? How does a family survive when a person with Alzheimer’s cannot work and requires constant care?<br /><br />Too many times a person with younger-onset dementia loses his job before diagnosis. Often a loss of employment means the end of health insurance. Without a job and the inability to get a new job, it is impossible to afford COBRA. It can easily take two years to get a diagnosis of early-onset dementia and even longer to receive a favorable disability determination.<br /><br />When a person of any age is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or related dementia, it places the entire family under emotional stress and financial strain. To include younger-onset Alzheimer's type of dementia on the Compassionate Allowances list would relieve families of one of the frustrating worries following diagnosis.<br /><br />----<br />Source: <a href="http://www.alz.org/">http://www.alz.org/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-66675242153453662672009-07-31T13:31:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.243-08:00New Chat Room<strong></strong>Hopefully you will note the new chatroom feature. You click wait for the chat request to appear, you put in your name or alias short discription and click chat. The room has room for more that one person. So I may or not may enter the chat. Please feel free to be open about why you are there. GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO ANSWER. Try hard as it may or will be not to talk oevr one anotehr. I can it is my chat room. The LIVE CHAT will probably leave as this only alllowed one to talk to me at a time. I hope caregivers that are on at the same time as us looney tunes will enter and share. I am trying to make this site yours as well as mine, hopefullly we can all learn from each other.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F15%255F54%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_54.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_15_54%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-6208273382133667342009-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.327-08:00GOOD MORNING WORLD!hope you are all fine. Chat seems to be working out ok. Have gotten to talk with some nice people. One in particular a 21 yr old woman in Boston, who at her age has taken on the daunting task of working in an Assisted Living Facility and going to host an Alhziemer's Proget meeting. I know what it takes to work in such a facility, you see that is where my mind was made up at an early age, while I handle the computer systems for 3 facilities, never would I live the way I saw. My heart broke working there.<br /><br />I have gotten a few that well shall we say have not been really forward, challenge them and they disappear, oh well.<br /><br />I have been told to write a bok about this journey and I hae tried but you know I thought about it and said yes good ideaa. But then I started to think, something ya thnik. I am writing a book here, completely unedited. Certainly not proof read and things but neatly. But this is a living book ever changing, always wanted to write one andnow my brain realizes after how many years at this, that I am.<br /><br />A little slower on the uptake these days. Well now, I lost my train and my thoughts, fuck I hate this shit. Catch Ya Latter.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-15262691691767210022009-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.410-08:00Good MorningWanted to say thanks to those of you taht have used the chat link, it has been fun for me. I think when i request it and the icon goes acros the screeen it scares people out, because they leave. I must admit it has woren me out. I am talking with some folks I hope to put a full time live chat room on. My hope is that it will give those who come to might site a chance to exchange ideas of this disease. Mabee it will help some of you caregivers to have others to talk to and help release some of your frustrations. Hell I know we with the disease are a handful. I find as it is progressing that I am less talkative to others, cut them off or just go to my own world and leave them out.<br /><br />Physically it is getting more demanding as well, was not prepared for this part and it pisses the hell out of me. I get to ill easily, to faint and way to exhausted. Shopping is not something I tolerate well at all anymore. But there are those that are worse off than I, but I am sure I will goin them soon, the way things are progressing. Even these entries tire me out, takes to much concentration that is getting harder to hold onto.<br /><br />Well enough pitty potty. You all have a great and wonderful day.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours (we need it now)!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-35202064475189536052009-07-21T10:07:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.493-08:00How Chat WorksWhen you come to site you can click on the blue Live Chat and we can talk. Aslo if you do not the system notifies me that someone is on my blog and I can invite you. What happens is this beautiful young lady in a box (my alter ego) comes across the screen says her name is Jane and Hello and asks if you need help. Actually that is me inviting you to talk. Just click start chat or no thanks. Sorry if the hi tech scares you, but I am having fun with it, of course the folks in Israel you created this program meant it for companies and they have spent hours explaining things to me. This am I am ok, will see what the rest of the day holds. Be Good. You never know when you may here my voice when you come to the site.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-42924910079095549652009-07-18T09:40:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.501-08:00Life is GoodI found myself in a funk—tired, rundown, and overdrawn on vitality. To regain my normal optimistic outlook on life, I decided to take a mini-vacation with nary a single plan to clutter up my do-nothingness. Usually the idea of taking three days off work in the middle of a Missouri July means chilling out under the air conditioner.<br /><br />Wednesday, I went to Kansas City and wore one of my “Life is Good” T-shirts for luck. I ventured into Dick’s Sporting Goods to see what kind of mid-summer bargains they might have. I practically glowed with optimism when I found my favorite T-shirts on sale and snapped up four “Life is Good” long-sleeved T-shirts. Well, I figured I couldn’t wear them until fall, but knew I’d get my money’s worth then.<br /><br />When I was in Boston last year I visited the original Life is Good store. That’s where I heard the Bert and John Jacobs’ story. These two guys made their start by selling T-shirts out of the back of a van. With a creative idea and a vanload of optimism, their achievements must have exceeded their wildest optimistic dreams.<br /><br />Sometimes in my life, it’s been hard for me to remain optimistic, but it is in my nature to look for the good in life. That is part of what helped me make it through the ten years of Jim’s dementia. I sought out the good times, the quiet times, the loving times. I found that by cherishing those small moments of joy, I could make it through the bad times.<br /><br />As we travel the river of life, we hit snags, whirlpools try to suck us downward, and sometimes we wind up high and dry on a sand bar. When we navigate through dangerous rapids we find ourselves in mortal danger as we cling to life.<br /><br />We can recognize the dangers of a river, but often don’t recognize the risk of stress. Warning signs are everywhere—high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, depression. We need to find a calm, quiet place and mentally regroup. We all need respite from the pressures of life. If we don’t take time for ourselves, our inner optimism will die from lack of use.<br /><br />My mini-vacation became respite from work and hot weather. A friend and I had a backyard barbeque Thursday evening and as we relaxed in lawn chairs a cool breeze sprung up. Who would have thought we would have 70 degree weather on a mid-July evening?<br /><br />Today, I awoke to 60 degree weather and guess what? I broke out one of my Life is Good shirts. I removed the tag and realized that my shirt is named “Acoustic Jake.”<br /><br />I still find joy in life’s small treasures. I find comfort in reading inspirational books like Joel Osteen’s <em>Your Best Life Now</em> and <em>Become a Better You</em>. This morning, my uplifting reading came from a tag off my Life is Good shirt. These words surround the logo on the tag: “Do what you like. Like what you do. Optimism can take you anywhere.”<br /><br />Life <em>is</em> good.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.lifeisgood.com/">http://www.lifeisgood.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.joelosteen.com/">http://www.joelosteen.com/</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-5315458008642656012009-07-17T08:21:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.577-08:00Friends You Got To Love Them.This came from a friend of mine, who knows there is not much upstairs anymore and that I love old jokes and humor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office. 'Is it true,' she wanted to know, 'that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life? ''Yes, I'm afraid so,' the doctor told her<br />There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, 'I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'.' <br />********************************<br />An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.<br />As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. 'Yes, Dad, what is it? '<br />'Don't be nervous, son; do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me, your mother is going to come and live with you and your wife.' <br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Aging:<br />Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.<br />---------------------------------<br />The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.<br />--------------------------------- <br /><br />Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! <br /><br />I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.<br />********************<br /><br />When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.<br />-------------------------------<br /><br />One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.<br /><><><><><><><><><> <br /><br />Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable. <br /><br /><><><><><><><><><> <br />First you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull up your zipper. It's worse when you forget to pull it down.<br />---------------------------------<br />Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft...<br />Today, it's called golf.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />Two old guys are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart when they collide.<br />The first old guy says to the second guy, 'Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.'<br />The second old guy says, 'That's OK, it's a coincidence. I'm looking for my wife, too. I can't find her and I'm getting a little desperate.'<br />The first old guy says, 'Well, maybe I can help you find her. What does she look like?'<br />' The second old guy says,' Well, she is 27 yrs old, tall, with red hair, blue eyes, long legs, and is wearing short shorts. What does your wife look like?'<br />To which the first old guy says, 'Doesn't matter, let's look for yours.'<br /><br />********************<br /><br />Lord, Keep Your arm around my shoulder, and Your hand over my mouth!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-39253246779471473222009-07-15T07:57:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.661-08:00Still Buggy OperatorI know you were there john, the operator was just signing on and signed himself right off. Give us a break, not much, just a little. Program works, I just have to get the fingers working right.<br />it showed you at 5:29am where ever that is. it is 8PST am here.<br />God Bless,<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-39782899242887754502009-07-14T18:14:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.742-08:00OK Let's See If You Use This.After slaving for 1000's of hours and bangnig my head on the wall to clear my ½ brain cell, and much swet, tears and blood and of course countlsse 10000000's of dollars, sound like I am going to make you rich scheme? WRONG!!!!!!!! This is more torturing than that. There is a small blue statement with a red under line on the upper right hand side of the blog it says live chat. Yes click on it and if my beast of humanity is on it will ring and we can chat to one another if you want. If not fine. I will take my milk and oreo's ago elsewhere.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-19432975408729824152009-07-12T20:42:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.586-08:00Thinking with My HeartThis week I received email newsletters from two trusted sources, <em>Alzheimer’s Weekly</em> and the Alzheimer’s Association, about a Swedish/Finnish study. The crux of the study was a marriage, so to speak, between dementia and committed relationships. I perked up when the researchers concluded that widows (like me!) were three times as likely to develop dementia as married women. I read new studies the same way I read a horoscope—I pick out the parts I like and bah-humbug the rest.<br /><br />The researchers say that social involvement will help offset the dementia risk of living alone. That’s good news for me since I am by nature a social being. I have been an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer and advocate for the past fourteen years. I’m an officer in a local business women’s group. Talk about an active club! We move from one project to the next, and have monthly meetings, weekly friendship luncheons, and several great conferences each year. Last, but certainly not least, I’m president of the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers’ Guild. Oh, and did I mention I work full-time as office manager at a rural electric cooperative? So, I think I have “social” covered.<br /><br />When the Alzheimer’s Association first unveiled their Maintain Your Brain program, I had mixed emotions. My friend, Diane and I were delegates at an assembly meeting in Chicago when we first heard about the program. Diane’s husband had recently died from early onset dementia, and she was concerned that people would begin to think that dementia was brought on by unhealthy habits. I had to agree with her.<br /><br />Yes, we all want to do things to keep our minds healthy, but what about people like Jim? He read, played the guitar, knew the lyrics to hundreds of songs, and he was only forty-nine years old. He certainly was not at risk for dementia.<br /><br />After I learned more about the program, I liked the common sense idea behind the science. Maintain Your Brain can be condensed into a few basic categories: stay mentally, socially, and physically active, and while you’re at it, eat brain healthy food. How to develop these simple, but effective, brain healthy habits can be found on the Alzheimer’s Association website at <a href="http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_brain_health_maintain_your_brain.asp">http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_brain_health_maintain_your_brain.asp</a>.<br /><br />Heart and brain health are connected in many ways. So think with your heart, but before you sign up for e-harmony.com consider other factors that can reduce your risk of dementia. A good rule to keep in mind is that if it’s good for your heart it’s good for your brain.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-71860080850130092822009-07-09T09:34:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.826-08:00Who & What Am I Becoming?There once was a tmie I could answer that but not anylonger. I have for the last several months porued myself into trying to start some things for the family to help make their financial future better. However, I remember the comment I made in the HBO thing, Once I was a genius, now I'm not. How true, it seems that once what I touched I mad work and well, now it goes to hell in a hand basket. My thoughts seem to be of the same charge and push each other out of the way, leaving avoid for confusion. That is the disease at work and having a good time of it. I find myself much more pissy and angry now, but I try to keeep the old trap shut and carry it alone. I am beginning to understand why we in this World of Ours, just sit alot and say nothing or just wander. We no longer have a grasp on things, what is real is it, I don't know any longer. I do not want to say things to family and friends because I don't want the constant hovering or them walikng on eggs. Frankly i do not know what I want, who I really am, where I have been or am going. Things from the past seem to be from yesterday and yesetrday seems to be the past. I feel truly helpless for the first time in my life. Where do we go from here? Down the tunnel.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-88862588752558581782009-07-04T17:50:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.909-08:00To All True American's - Happy July 4th.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SlZPh-aSqXI/AAAAAAAAAIE/PDr_BgFXzio/s1600-h/grandkidsus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SlZPh-aSqXI/AAAAAAAAAIE/PDr_BgFXzio/s400/grandkidsus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356556251911334258" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>TO ALL WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM. THIS IS OUR TRIBUTE TO YOU! THEY WILL CARRY ON FOR YOU AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT REGARDLESS OF THOSE IN WASHINGTON THAT WANT TO SELL US TO ILLEGALS AND CHINA.<br /><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F14%255F3v%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_3v.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_14_3v%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F2%255F108%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_2_108.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_2_108%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F16%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_16.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_16%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F4v%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_4v.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_4v%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D17%252F17%255F1%255F34%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_34.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D17%252F17_1_34%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D17%252F17%255F5%255F3%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_5_3.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D17%252F17_5_3%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Our Country is based on the Christian and Judeo principals, no matter what the "I'm Just A Boy From Kenya" has to say. I am not normally this political on my site, but this man and the present congress are not worthy of the support of REAL AMERICANS.<br /><br />So let me have it back. Just remember I will forget it and go on with what is left of my life and brain, you will be living in yours. Little AD sarcasim.<br /><br />I hope YOU ALL have a geart 4th of July and remember why we have our freedoms that others even here what to take away from us.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F108%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_108.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_108%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-23271373811106419992009-07-04T07:24:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.673-08:00Music Therapy Stimulates Memories<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQzbVBjQpJn-Uz_-aapvhY2IJ-WGK080XPKm6dxxHH0Bb3NjSElqWxcDybfUPfc2TymZze3bhneqYtCMW3SHFSG2RwePmBlGHJKyXVuEPNmuJMYnib8ebEJnJRYALWOLHpTrIcATXkvU/s1600-h/Mom+Reta+Labetta+small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354611641357092274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQzbVBjQpJn-Uz_-aapvhY2IJ-WGK080XPKm6dxxHH0Bb3NjSElqWxcDybfUPfc2TymZze3bhneqYtCMW3SHFSG2RwePmBlGHJKyXVuEPNmuJMYnib8ebEJnJRYALWOLHpTrIcATXkvU/s320/Mom+Reta+Labetta+small.jpg" border="0" /></a>Music stimulates our memories and unveils feelings we thought we had forgotten. Have you ever noticed how a song can bring back a flood of emotions? A familiar melody can take us back in time, and although our physical appearance might shriek middle-age, our emotional age is the era of the song.<br /><br />If you don’t think music can transform you internally, pay attention to the songs that give you happy feet. Even if your body isn’t up to the dance moves of your youth, your heart hears the music and your feet want to dance.<br /><br />Throughout the years of our marriage, Jim played his guitar nearly every morning. He called it his therapy. At work I often listen to KDRO radio, a local station that plays country music and almost every song makes me think of Jim. One of the saddest things about dementia was when Jim began to have trouble playing his guitar. One day he asked me to tune his guitar. Jim, the man with perfect pitch, wanted tone-deaf me to attempt something I had never done in my life. I knew his request was beyond my abilities, but I called his brother and he took care of it.<br /><br />Music has been a family tradition in my mom’s family. I grew up thinking that all normal families played guitars and sang. On Saturday nights my mom and her brothers, neighbors, and friends sat on wooden kitchen chairs and played music for hours. On those Saturdays at Grandma and Grandpa Whittle’s house, my Aunt Venetia always sang my grandma’s favorite gospel songs.<br /><br />My mom, Aunt Labetta, Jimmy (my brother), cousin Reta, and Gene Branch play music at the nursing home one Saturday a month. Recently, I dropped by Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Versailles to listen to the music. I wound my way through the halls to the dining room where they were set up on the stage. Several residents tapped their toes and sang along with the songs they knew. At the front of the room, my Aunt Venetia sat dozing in her wheelchair while my cousin Jan attended to her. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoFSQIftzsAGNhTtWg3YRvCP2gcRPN6gI9TsqrkYOXJvJ16n2az3lFmPDcIQVB2BIov60KAvZYpel3Eqnmu0NYIO6_KcSR858Z6rOMpa8xOnLm-kN9TP2Wl3V4Lffgn0Gbu5y2cOwZwM/s1600-h/Jan+and+Venita+small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354612167165616162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXoFSQIftzsAGNhTtWg3YRvCP2gcRPN6gI9TsqrkYOXJvJ16n2az3lFmPDcIQVB2BIov60KAvZYpel3Eqnmu0NYIO6_KcSR858Z6rOMpa8xOnLm-kN9TP2Wl3V4Lffgn0Gbu5y2cOwZwM/s320/Jan+and+Venita+small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My mom and Aunt Labetta, as always, dedicated a special song to their sister-in-law. Aunt Venetia is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, yet she perks up when she hears the music she’s loved her entire life.<br /><br />When Jim was in the nursing home, his favorite channel was GAC. His eyes were glued to the set when his favorite entertainers performed. His foot would tap in time to the music that he once effortlessly played.<br /><br />With the special bond music has to our memories, it is no wonder that eyes sparkle at certain songs. Sometimes the sparkle is caused by unshed tears, but often it’s just memories dancing in our brains that bring life to our eyes.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-55571266166048243202009-07-01T09:24:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:32.993-08:00Something Different From MeYes a big HELLO to you all. I wish to thnak all of you who write to me. And those of you whose blogs I have listed although I may not leave comments I do read them in the back office of my blog, where I constantly recieve your updates,. This morning is calm for me, feels strange. But it is like the weather wait a minute things will change, so I though I would get this off now. Your sharing of your troubles with your loved ones brings a sense of calmness to me at times. See it is nice to know (unfortunately), that I am not alone out here. I want to say thank you for being there for me, it truly helps. You know you can comment however you chose, good, bad, rotten, ugly, beautiful, your choisce but remember I do not edit comments and they get posted as written. That is how I post and you deserve the same.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-54567094318094550332009-06-28T08:42:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.078-08:00From The Clouds Comes The Darkness.Some or many of you know I quit drivnig a long time ago, by my choice because of the danger I was, then my drs. told me not too, they were a litttle behind the curve. Well now the check book has a problem, ME. so the wife has to take that ove now. See they call this MCI (mild cognetive impairment), up my ass. Come live in my brain and tell me how mild this bull is. See how you like it when you stand up turn around and do not know where the hell you are or the wall hits your face or your world spins. Get lost in the talk you are havngi. Set and stare at the computer and not know why you are looking at it. MCI explains it all. The Dr. who first coined this phrase had brain cell farts in my book and sure didn't know mild from a hole in the ground. But of course he knows it to be so, he is smart, right.<br /><br />Well let me go I need to practice for Moderat Cognitive Impairment, so I don't know what the fuck or what the hell I am doing. That should be fun.<br /><br />All you caregivers remember MCI and see how you think of it. Your thoughts much welcomed. By the way you Drs. and Holistic nits that send me your causes and cures go away, I have checked out studies and they do not work. Some provide a year or so of added time, then the person is right where they should have been, big service you do. Yes, I was told how herpes causes AD and then had an advertisement at the end of the email for vits and herbs to help cure and slow down. I guess I must really come across as a moron and totaly stupid. But this posts are getting harder and I am getting more, well less friendly and tired.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-61642427273537501842009-06-28T04:53:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.760-08:00Home Videos: I Cried Until I LaughedYesterday, I decided to sort some of our old home videos. Jim was the cameraman and captured every vacation and important event on tape. Sometimes, I would get irritated with him for turning our lives into reality TV. Usually, I preferred to unpack while he played the tapes for the family.<br /><br />While Jim was in the nursing home, I couldn’t bear to watch any of the tapes. By then, he had lost his ability to carry on a conversation. He was my best friend and I missed how we shared our deepest thoughts and feelings, our hopes and fears. After aphasia stole his conversation skills, he became more and more silent and spoke only a few words in repetitious phrases.<br /><br />Jim had meticulously labeled each tape with his initials, JDF, and when, where, or what the tape contained. I picked up a tape labeled: Colorado 1988 and popped it into the VCR/DVD player. My screen was filled with majestic mountain scenery, deer, elk, and coyotes as Jim taped one of our animal watch evenings in the Rocky Mountain National Park.<br /><br />Jim taped our campfire breakfast the next morning, and to keep him from running the video camera while driving the curvy mountain roads, I taped our drive through the park. Jim, as usual, narrated. I turned the camera on Jim and he began to talk about our plans for the day. “We’re having the time of our lives,” he said.<br /><br />Tears welled up as I watched Jim on the video and was reminded of the man he was before we knew anything about dementia. He spoke in his quick-witted manner, relaxed, and happy in his beloved Colorado. The mountains worked their magic on him giving him an inner happiness and peace that he didn’t have in our normal world. I was beginning to think that watching these films was depressing and a really bad idea.<br /><br />“We are going to the Big Horn Meadow,” Jim said. “I’m going to feed the chipmunks.” Jim was pretty good to follow all the rules and regulations in the park, but he had always fed the chipmunks.<br /><br />“Why not? It’s only a $25 fine—per offence,” I said.<br /><br />“We can afford $25,” he answered.<br /><br />Jim’s bantering from more than twenty years ago chased away my tears, and I found myself laughing out loud. Somehow in my memories, I had forgotten Jim’s great sense of humor.<br /><br />During one of our hikes, Jim had the camera, and he said, “I’ve dropped back to film because Linda doesn’t like for me to film her from behind. Ooops,” he said as the camera caught my rear view. He swung the camera aside and then back, “Ooops. And ooops.”<br />As we drove up Fall River Road next to a sheer drop off, Jim teasingly asked me if I wanted him to get closer to my side of the road so I could get a better picture. “Oh, no,” I said, “I’m fine.”<br /><br />When the tape came to an end, I popped in a couple of tapes marked “Idaho” to see what they were. At least that’s what I told myself. One of them was a trip Jim took to Idaho without me. Jim shot footage of his cousin Joe in Idaho and in the next segment the camera zoomed in for a close-up of a McDonald’s sign. “Hey, honey, guess where I am! This is the only McDonald’s I ever liked to eat at.”<br /><br />“Estes Park!” I said from my seat on the couch where I still held the remote in my hands.<br /><br />“Estes Park!” he said…as if I wouldn’t immediately know.<br /><br />There’s no danger that I will ever forget Jim as long as I’m breathing, but memories are limited. Most of the moments caught on film were buried so deep within my brain I would probably have never retrieved them. Watching the tapes are a way of reminding me of the wondrous moments I’ve lived, even if nostalgia makes me cry until happy memories make me laugh.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-26828792519930588752009-06-20T11:24:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.845-08:00He Wouldn't Harm a FlyIt must have been a slow news day for the president to create such a whoop-la-la by smacking a pesky fly. Especially when you consider the nasty little creatures carry life threatening diseases on all six of their dirty little feet. Spreading diseases isn’t enough for adult flies—they lay their eggs in places where the larvae can burrow into flesh and damage internal organs in unfortunate animals.<br /><br />I wonder if the PETA guy that protested the president swatting a fly has ever been bitten by a horsefly. Well, I have and they hurt. Although the lowly fly causes pain and suffering for just about every other living animal, PETA is supplying the president with a special trap that will not harm the flies. The idea is to take the trapped flies outside and set them free.<br /><br />All this concern about small creatures reminds me of an incident that happened when Jim was in the early stages of dementia. We were headed to town in Jim’s Nissan pickup. I was driving, and Jim sat beside me. We had just turned onto the blacktop when he began to pull against his seatbelt and leaned forward into his seat.<br /><br />“No!” he shouted. “You’re killing them!”<br /><br />For some unknown reason a mass of caterpillars were creeping across the blacktop. “No! No!” he shrieked. “You are running over the worms.”<br /><br />“I can’t miss them,” I said. “They’re everywhere.”<br /><br />Jim was really upset about the creepy crawlers, but I just ignored his protests. Why he was so upset, I really don’t know. It was just one more glitch in his thinking.<br /><br />I can honestly say I cannot recall one time that I was deliberately cruel to any animal. I make it a habit to swiftly deal the fatal blow when necessary. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a tendency to kill flies, ticks, spiders, or any other critters I find in my house, or on my body. If PETA considers killing annoying, disease-carrying bugs mass murderer, then I plead guilty.<br /><br />Oh, wait. No one really cares if I kill flies because I am not the President of the United States. Sometimes it pays to be an ordinary person instead of the rich or famous whose every indiscretion is caught by a watchful camera lens and published on You Tube.<br /><br />I found a tip on the Internet that makes me think PETA may be on to something with that trap. Flies follow each other in their constant hunt for food. If you catch a few flies in the trap, their buzzing will attract more flies. Once the trap is full of flies, you can get rid of them.<br /><br />Maybe you are the kind who couldn’t harm a fly and will set them free. Or you may be a person who plans to terminate those suckers and rid the world of disease carrying pests.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-41535000537284602262009-06-18T07:37:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.163-08:00I Am Back, Ready or Not.You know, no you don't, but this damn disease is a real bitch at times. I find myself having to seperate and kind of hide to keep from lashing out. We have had our one daughter and grand kids and son in law with us almost 3 weeks I think, am not handlin this well. I love them, but.<br /><br />My wife and I are starting to lock horns more, she thought my last post was rather mean and spiteful, I think that is how she put it. My reply was, well you guessed it eat shit and bark at the moon. I write what I feel and how I see it. It may be clouded it maybe one sided, but it is all I know. I make no excuses for what and how I put it. Those that live in this World with me, they know, they understand and hopefully I say what they cannot at least for now, while I am able to . Yes I am angry as I write this today, better to put it here than where else I might.<br /><br />Ino We that live with AD, really find ourselves fucked up alot of the time, understanding the real confusion and loss we feel is difficult I know for those on the outside looking in. See we can not get back to the outside to look in, we are stuck here and sinking deeper. Try to imagine the darkness starting to encase you slowly and you cannot stop it and you want out and NO not for you. What is that old saying when Casey at The Bat struck out, there is no joy in mudville.<br /><br />Well enough from me. You all have a great day and wonderful life.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%255F3%255F6%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14_3_6.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14_3_6%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D17%252F17%255F1%255F16%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/17/17_1_16.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D17%252F17_1_16%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />God know the idiots in Washington won't fix it, but only screw us more.<br />joe<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-63499482998312796622009-06-13T20:09:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:20.930-08:00Murphy's WeekThis week has been really long and totally wrong. Monday was my day off, and I don’t have any complaints about it.<br /><br />Murphy’s Law was in full force beginning Tuesday, which seemed like a bad Monday to me. I started down the stairs to take towels out of the dryer. I flipped the switch and the stairwell light burned out. Why is it that when one light burns out it starts a chain reaction? When I turned on my closet light, it went out too. It’s always dangerous for me to choose my outfit for the day when I can’t see into the depths of my closet.<br /><br />At work I spent the morning putting out fires instead of working on month end. At noon, I made a trip to Dollar Tree to buy table decorations for an upcoming meeting. I was proud of my efficient shopping until I couldn’t find my car keys. I finally set my packages on the ground and thoroughly searched each compartment of my new purse. No keys. I patted down all my pockets, first the raincoat and then my slacks. My son has a set of keys so I knew (as a last resort) I could call him. One time when he bailed me out, he happened to pull on the door and it wasn’t locked. I don’t like repeating mistakes so I checked the car door. It opened, and I fully expected to see my keys in the ignition. They weren’t! Now what? Then, I saw them in the cup holder.<br /><br />You would have thought that would have been enough excitement for one day. After work, I went to the gym to de-stress, and when I came out I noticed my trunk lid was up. I must have pushed too many buttons when I locked the doors. I walked over and casually closed it like I always leave my trunk open even in a rain shower.<br /><br />The good thing about Wednesday—it had to be better than Tuesday. I forgot my closet light was out until I flipped the switch and nothing happened. Still, I managed to get dressed and out the door on time. At work, I jumped into month end. I was a woman on a mission: Make up for yesterday when everything seemed to go wrong.<br /><br />An hour later I wanted a cup of coffee and headed down the hall to the kitchen. I was preoccupied with work, but noticed one shoe was clicking and the other wasn’t. I looked at my feet and discovered I had on two black shoes but they definitely weren’t mates. One was my Liz Baker shoe with about an inch heel and the other was a Clark shoe with flat rubber soles. And I thought my limp was because of my bad knee!<br /><br />I pondered what to do about this wardrobe malfunction. My first thought was to sit at my desk and keep my feet out of sight. That didn’t seem like such a great idea since I had plans to go to friendship lunch at noon. I couldn’t imagine walking into Bandana’s with mismatched shoes on my feet.<br /><br />Following the suck-it-up-and-deal-with-it philosophy, I walked into my boss’s office. “I need to go home,” I told him. I knew it wouldn’t be a problem to go home, but I didn’t want to just disappear for half an hour.<br /><br />“Is something wrong?” he asked. His concern was so touching that I couldn’t lie.<br /><br />“Not really,” I said. “I just need to change my shoes. They are both black, but they aren’t mates.”<br /><br />On the way home, I thought about how my week had been going. I was beginning to feel pretty silly, but blamed my problems on brain overload. I’m sure it has nothing to do with my impending birthday or that nonsense about senior moments. I saw how dementia changed Jim, and I know the difference.<br /><br />I decided to go with the Clarks which are the most comfortable shoes I own. As I drove back to work, I decided the burnt-out bulb was the reason I pulled out mismatched shoes. After all, if anything can go wrong, it will. Isn’t that the basis of Murphy’s Law?<br /><br />We’ll skip the rest of the week including almost running out of gas and pumping it in the middle of a thunderstorm. One great thing about today—the week is winding down to its overdue end. When I wake up in the morning, it will be a brand new week and I can scoff at Murphy’s Law.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-12581973871841626772009-06-04T10:55:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.246-08:00Through The Fog Comes Anger.I have beeen reaing some of the blogs I follow this morning, which I can do from inside my blog. I get disturbed easily, especially by those in the "Medical Practice" and what they try to push. These are the very people (not necessarily the ones I read) that have told somany that live with me in theis World of Mine, that we were ok, just anxious, depressed and absent minded. See we did not fit in their fuckin little box, we did not adhere to pages 89-101 so we could not have any form of dementia. Now some of them have joined us in this world of ours and are bitching that people say they cann't have it because, THE BOX, is square not distorted. Mean this may sound but, you diserve to hear that crap your profession spit out at me and thousands like me. I make no appologies for letting you know how I feel, you see my life is worth just as muchas yours and I am loosing it more and more each day. It is harder for me to talk, walk and maintain train of thought in a conversation. I even forget who the people are around me more now. Probably by this time next year, if I am still around, my body will be here, but I will not. Alhziemers is doing its job on me and having a good time at it.<br />I saw a youtube asking fatso Oprah to help. This woman is only interested in her money and famous friends that may have this disease or know someone that does, than she does a show on it. It just discusts me to beg such people. It is us who do these blogs and what HBO did for us that is going to make the difference. Yeah the baby boomers are getting worried, WHY?, because a whole hell of alot of them are starting and will joine us here in the World of Forgetfullness. Where we these people when we cried out for help, toooo busy to hear us.<br />Wait till you look at your wife or children and have no idea why these people are in your house and what the hell do they want. Then the old mind comes back and you know you left, you want terror there it is. Come walk with me in my World and see how brown the grass is.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F15%255F54%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_54.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_15_54%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F15%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_15.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_15%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-50105434715446198132009-05-31T10:38:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.100-08:00The Alzheimer’s ProjectWhen Jim was first diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, I knew nothing about the disease. One day shortly after Jim’s diagnosis, I watched an HBO special on Early Onset Alzheimer’s. The show followed a brother and sister with the genetic form of Alzheimer’s. The sister was in the end stages, and the brother was beginning to need help dressing himself. I remember the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach when his wife fastened his belt. As the sister lay dying, the younger generation, a boy and girl in their teens, talked about their fifty-fifty chance of developing early onset Alzheimer’s. That show was a crash course on the relentless disease and how it affects the entire family.<br /><br />With families of 5.3 million Americans traveling the Alzheimer’s journey, HBO has developed a documentary called “The Alzheimer’s Project.” HBO opened their airways to non-subscribers to make this program available to the general public. Anyone with Internet access can watch the programs on the Alzheimer’s Association website at <a href="http://www.alz.org/">http://www.alz.org/</a>.<br /><br />Many reviews have been written about “The Alzheimer’s Project” and this is not going to be one of them. I’m only going to talk about my reaction to the series.<br /><br />I did well on Part I, “The Memory Loss Tapes,” until the death scene. Too many things about that scene brought back the emotional tumult of Jim’s death. As I watched the family’s faces, I remembered the inner struggle to face the reality of our journey’s end.<br /><br />My first reaction was HBO should not have shown that scene. My friend, Ted, whose wife is in the final stages of the disease called me to make sure I knew about the series. He said, “They are telling it like it is.” I had to admit he was correct.<br /><br />I imagine not everyone at HBO was in agreement about showing the death scene. I had the same internal struggle about including the final story in <em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love</em>. I was afraid “The Aftermath” would be too depressing, but something compelled me to share Jim’s death and my reaction. Caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s have enough to deal with to make it through the day-in-day-out struggle with dementia. Did I want to let them know that the death of their loved one is the final insult? That was the moment I realized that no matter how much I had done, the disease won.<br /><br />Part II, “Grandpa Do You Know Who I Am” shows how young people see the disease. I think about how my grandchildren never knew what Jim was like before dementia. Their image, like some of the children in the film, is of a different person whose brain has been destroyed by disease.<br /><br />The “Caregivers” is helpful with its real live experiences, and we plan on showing this film at our support group. Knowledge is power and the more we know about the disease, the better caregivers we are. Jim had aphasia early in the disease and wasn’t able to tell me what he was thinking or how he felt. I was blessed by becoming friends with people with Alzheimer’s who retained their communication skills. I learned so much about how a person with Alzheimer’s feels from my friends with the disease. I truly appreciate their insights, fears, and hopes.<br /><br />“Momentum in Science,” both parts, assures me that progress is being made toward diagnosing and understanding Alzheimer’s affect on the brain. One of the researchers featured in the film, Randy Bateman, MD, from Washington University, accompanied our Missouri Delegation on legislative visits at the Public Policy Forum in 2008. I was impressed with his down-to-earth manner.<br /><br />The early HBO series helped me understand Alzheimer’s, but the Alzheimer’s Project has a much wider scope with its marriage of personal stories and the hope of scientific breakthrough. Unless science moves forward and finds a cure for Alzheimer’s and related dementias, death is the conclusion of the disease. I look forward to the day when we have Alzheimer's survivors walk a victory lap at Memory Walk. Until then, the only survivors of Alzheimer’s are the caregivers and families.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-50428019554321447482009-05-25T13:34:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.412-08:00We Will Always Remember!!!!!!!!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShsBIA3VYEI/AAAAAAAAAHs/IXRpq8uONZ4/s1600-h/ATT7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShsBIA3VYEI/AAAAAAAAAHs/IXRpq8uONZ4/s400/ATT7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339863020360523842" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShsA_4sCvLI/AAAAAAAAAHk/9EuQKmEp26A/s1600-h/Patriotflag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShsA_4sCvLI/AAAAAAAAAHk/9EuQKmEp26A/s400/Patriotflag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339862880726727858" /></a><br /><br />Lest we forget why we are FREE!!!!! To OUR TROOPS and FALLEN COMRADES, I Salute You.<br /><br />God Bless You All & God Bless Our Country!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F13%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_13_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_13_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F14%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_14.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_14%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-48323197859773974192009-05-23T16:14:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.186-08:00Honor our Everyday HeroesMemorial Day is a time to pause and think about heroes and to honor those who have died in our nation’s wars. At least, that was the original purpose.<br /><br />It stands to reason that we would use the day to also honor other loved ones. My Grandma Whittle called the holiday “Decoration Day.” She and Grandpa loaded up a picnic lunch and went to Big Rock Cemetery to decorate graves.<br /><br />After Jim and I married, we made our annual pilgrimage to the cemeteries where our loved ones were buried. Sometimes it was a strain on our budget to buy the flowers to decorate the graves, but it brought a sense of peace as we continued the traditions of our youth.<br /><br />Our first stop was always Mt. Carmel. From there we went to Big Rock Cemetery, stopped at Stover Cemetery, and then drove back to Sedalia to decorate graves at Crown Hill. We made a complete circle and headed home with a heart full of memories.<br /><br />When Jim first developed dementia, I drove our usual route while Jim placed the flowers on the graves. When Jim went in the nursing home, I went alone. Decorating graves without him was not an experience I cared to repeat.<br /><br />Memorial Day 2005 was the first time I participated in the ceremony at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at Higginsville. I haven’t missed a year since Jim’s death.<br /><br />I was a little bummed about a conflict this year. My granddaughter is graduating kindergarten Sunday. My youngest son’s family lives in the Lake of the Ozarks area, the opposite direction from the cemetery. I told my older son, Eric, that I was going to the graduation. “I’ll miss the Memorial Day ceremony,” I told him.<br /><br />I was disappointed, but I know Jim would have never chosen a ceremony for the dead over one for the living. He often wondered aloud what good it did to make someone a hero after they died. Jim always said, “Dying doesn’t automatically make you a hero.” Instead, he would tell our sons when they were small, “You are my hero.”<br /><br />Jim never considered himself to be a hero. He was tightlipped when it came to Vietnam, and I never knew Jim had received an Army Commendation Medal until he could no longer tell me why he received the award. The commendation was nowhere to be found, and the Army couldn’t produce it when I asked.<br /><br />“Why would you miss the ceremony when the graduation is Sunday and Memorial Day is Monday?” Eric asked.<br /><br />“I don’t know why I thought Memorial Day was Sunday,” I said. “After all, it’s always been Monday.”<br /><br />On Memorial Day, I’ll drive to Higginsville cemetery to place flowers in front of Jim’s niche. I’ll be there with my sister-in-law, Ginger, and with other families to think about and honor our loved ones. When we pause to honor our fallen heroes, we should honor our everyday heroes too. We all know people who face life’s challenges with bravery.<br /><br />I think about how Jim told our sons they were his heroes, and how prophetic his words would become. They truly became his heroes when they cared for him with love and respect as he faded away. <br /><br />For most people, decorating graves is an afterthought as they travel home from a weekend at the lake. Others spend the weekend shopping at Memorial Day sales or pigging out at backyard barbecues.<br /><br />I always thought it ironic that Memorial Day has become a party weekend, not a somber occasion to remember the dead. Maybe it makes more sense to use Memorial Day as a time to celebrate life and honor the living as well as our fallen heroes. After all, we are surrounded by everyday heroes who deserve recognition for facing life with courage.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-70995592899650302882009-05-22T10:00:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.495-08:00No Wonder My BackYard is a Challenge..I was sittting here reading my last entry, I knew something was wrong with it, but I had to study my own hands to figrue it out. It should have read starting on the left. See I do not know my right from my left anymore. Might be one reason I don't drive anymore and I turn into the wall when walking. I think I have it right now, if not you figure it out I am done.<br /><br />You know this thing is gettting the better of me, we knew it would happen. I am having greater difficulty in remebering what day it is and am getting lost in conversations more often now. I am trying to follow the note that hangs on my computer desk that just says BLOG. I feel that I will soon not be doing this, having too much trouble with my thoughts, fingers and the friken keybaord.<br />So much for my crab, you all have a great ad wonderful life.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-79988269515821599552009-05-20T14:40:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.579-08:00The Grewsome Foursome!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShR5NkG_UPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/mALAKkPRvDM/s1600-h/screening.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/ShR5NkG_UPI/AAAAAAAAAHc/mALAKkPRvDM/s400/screening.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338024732279132402" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>Well I thought you should seem some of the folks respoonsilge for the HBO Special.<br /><br />Starting on the right: Sherry the Nick they along with Elisa (not in the picture) produced Memory The Lost Tapes. Give them a bid hand for a job very well done.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D15%252F15%255F10%255F6%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_10_6.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D15%252F15_10_6%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> Next is Annie daughter of Josephine that were in the special. Picture was taken in LA at a priemer showing. The old fart, well he is not going to beat out robert Redford. He is the mystery person.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F15%255F50%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_50.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_15_50%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F1v%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_1v.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_1v%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-91306288304354421512009-05-18T12:52:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.664-08:00I Do Not Go Away - Google.<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>I sure many thougt I would not follow up on my distain with Google, but I have a very angry side to me, especially when being called a thief. Years ago maybe, now no way. So here is to google, using spell & grammar checker so they could understand. Also, no answer from them yet. No balls I guess.<br /><br /><br /><br />April 28, 2009<br /><br />Mr. Eric Schmidt<br />Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer<br />Google<br />1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy.<br />Mountain View, CA 94043<br /><br />Dear Mr. Schmidt:<br /><br />I am sure that you maybe wondering why there is a check for $0.81 attached to this letter.<br /><br />Well there is a good reason for that, I do not appreciate being basically called a thief and a purveyor of illegal intent of taking funds from anyone. This blood money is repayment for what I was paid by Google Ad sense, because someone unknown to me was clicking on the ads on my blog. I presume from the insulting email I received from your outfit, they were not justified. I appealed, since I did not even know that I was to get paid, and basically as far as I am concerned was called a liar and complicter by your staff.<br /><br />You see I suffer from Alzheimer’s and Frontal Temporal Lobe Dementia. I have a blog located at http://living-with-alzheimers.blogspot.com/. On this site I tell of how the disease affects me and how I cope with it. I started it to help caregivers, physicians and those whose loved ones suffer from the disease, what it is like in Our World. Maybe in a small way giving them some comfort as to how it is not their fault and that they could do very little.<br /><br />I thought Adsense would be good, because it listed sites and places for people to go on my blog as well as in the posting. The ads were pertinent to the blog and entries. This was my whole thrust. But YOUR PEOPLE, I guess felt I was just trying to steal from you. So hence I return the $0.81 to you, I would not want your firm to suffer any financial hardship over this, or your dog not be able to eat because of it.<br /><br />As a point of interest, The Wall Street Journal thought enough of me and my integrity to feature my blog in the paper. HBO Media also has honored me by including me in their The Alzheimer’s Project, which airs in May 2009. By the way you can find the information on Google.<br /><br />I remain,<br />Joseph Potocny<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-65908286933477762892009-05-17T11:24:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.747-08:00Who Am I?<strong></strong>For some reason many of you have called me hero, courgeous, generous spirt, wonderful person and all type of kind things. Truly I am none of these, just another one among millions with this fricken disease. No cure, no real meds, no real scientific finds, just one end. At firstm many thought I was bitter orver it, I never have been. Pissed at a medical profession that would not get its head out of its ass and listen yes. You see it is just my turn, I was called and well I answered, oh well. Often wanted to write my life story, maybe that is teh real reason behind this blog, I do not know. Now I have difficulty putting it into a time frame since time does not exist for me the same as it does for you. I was going to callthe booke THROUGH THE LAUGHTER, HE HEARD MY TEARS! So much for that.<br /><br />If you want to know who and what I really am, there is a post 08/0/2008 called A Warrior's Lament, an attempt at a poem by me saying where I have been and am and a post 09/29/2007 Farwell To My Old Friend Pain, to post is self explaining I thing.<br /><br />Well Lakes to HBO this blog has been buzing. They are the Heroes for doing the series that needed to be done. Five hours cannot cover it all, but they did a one heck of a knock up job. Shit the brought back long lost friends to me because of it, I sure benefited by it. Well tooo much rambling.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F101%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_101.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_101%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D15%252F15%255F1%255F134%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_1_134.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D15%252F15_1_134%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-12071048900161234222009-05-16T10:57:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.272-08:00Lessons Learned from Scott the Piano GuyI was flipping through the channels recently and saw a PBS broadcast featuring Scott the Piano Guy. I don’t own or play a piano, but something told me this wasn’t an ordinary show, so I decided to watch it.<br /><br />Scott begins his lessons by asking his studio audience, “Do any of you want to be a classic pianist?” No one raised a hand. When he asked, “Would any of you like to come home from work and play a favorite tune on the piano?” all hands reached high.<br /><br />The Piano Guy has a unique method of teaching the piano, and believes anyone can learn to play in days or weeks, rather than years of lessons. He is the first to admit he is not the best piano player. He begins by demonstrating that it makes no difference which fingers you use to play the chords. The funny thing about the piano, it sounds the same regardless of which fingers you use.<br /><br />Scott demonstrates how to find the mysterious (to those of us who do not play) middle C. He holds his hands out to touch both ends of the piano and falls forward onto the keys. “When I center myself at the piano,” he says, “my nose hits middle C.” Mystery solved.<br /><br />Scott is entertaining, but he gave me much more to think about than playing the piano. First, when you tackle a problem, you need to decide on your goal. Do you want to spend years playing scales on the keyboard, or just play the darn thing? Do you want to be perfect, or will you cut yourself some slack?<br /><br />Second, when you have a job to do, you can meticulously follow all the rules. Or, you can be like Scott the Piano Guy and do it your way and write new rules.<br /><br />I think every caregiver can gain wisdom from Scott the Piano Guy. What is your caregiving goal? I will venture a guess that it is to take the best care you can of your loved one. You don’t care about being the world’s best caregiver, or plan on being a professional. Let’s face it, when you become a caregiver, you can’t spend years practicing before you know what you are doing. You learn to be quick, think on your feet and be creative.<br /><br />As a caregiver, you can’t possibly know all the rules, much less follow them. You will find yourself making them up as you progress from day-to-day. Besides when your loved one has dementia, you find out that what worked yesterday may work today but not tomorrow.<br /><br />Scott the Piano Guy is successful because he is innovative. I can’t think of a better attribute for successful caregivers. When people with dementia can no longer come to your world, you need to go to theirs.<br /><br />If you learn to reassure your loved one and have a positive outlook, it helps both of you through a tough situation. You can be the best caregiver for your loved one without being the world’s best caregiver.<br /><br />Be kind to yourself and have a little fun. Rather than argue over what the rules say must be done at a particular time, go for a walk and pick a few flowers. Remember, it’s not the finesse and technique that matters, it’s the results. If you make the best of each day and seek out moments of joy, everyone is happier.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-8221366574915447342009-05-12T11:28:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.830-08:00Thank You All<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D4%252F4%255F18%255F7%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_18_7.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D4%252F4_18_7%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><strong></strong>I hav been deeply moved an honored by the number of people that have wirttin me and sent me emails over the last few days. The words used pay me an honor that I do not deserve. I am but one of many on the journey, I jus am able still to let you know hte rotten side of it here. In watching the HBO special, the real heros were the kids, I cried over their pain and frustration and the absolute resolve they had to love their grandparents and want ing to understand. See you have the tuff part, we just keep forgetting and reach a point that nothing matters as it once did. Someday, they may really know what causes this and may even find a way to stop it, reverse it I do not think so. But wha the hell we are talking about me thinking. I have one brain cell and more than one thought causes a traffic jam and I get totally messed up and confused. It is harder for me to talk these days, words come out kind of liek my typeing. If I get to it today or the nxet couple of days I will be adding some links to other blogs for you to read.<br /><br />Till next we meet.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F15%255F54%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_54.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_15_54%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZSYYYYYYTWUS%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F3%255F12%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_3_12.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_3_12%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-37917365995427440922009-05-08T12:01:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.357-08:00When Pigs Fly: Swine Flu ImmunizationOne of the advantages of getting older is I don’t panic as easily as I did when I was younger. I think it’s a combination of slower reaction time and the reality that I just don’t have as much to lose anymore.<br /><br />All this media frenzy over the swine flu reminds me of what I consider its culpability in my own brush with death. The ambiguous “its” can refer to swine flu and/or the media.<br /><br />I was a lot younger in 1976 and so were my children. Eric was 6 and Rob was only four. Swine flu had reared its ugly head, and to protect us from harm, a massive immunization program was implemented. We were warned that since we had no immunity to this deadly virus, all able bodied Americans should be immunized. It sounded almost like our patriotic duty to do so. At the least, it seemed like our parental duty to protect our children.<br /><br />Jim and I had a disagreement over the immunization.<br /><br />“I’ll take my chances with the flu,” Jim said. “It sounds like scare tactics to me. Somebody is going to make a whole lot of money out of this.”<br /><br />“Well, I’m getting the shot. I’d feel just awful if I caught the flu and gave it to the kids,” I argued. I played the guilt card, and asked, “You won’t even do this for the safety of our kids?”<br /><br />“It’s just a bunch of hogwash,” he said.<br /><br />My motherly instincts overrode Jim’s common sense, not to mention my own. I should have known that if you drove up in a car, stuck your arm out the window and had someone shoot an untested vaccination in your arm, it couldn’t be good. But I did it. I can’t remember just where the location of the drive-thru shot took place, but I think it might have been a bank.<br /><br />I was all right for a few days after the immunization for swine flu and I figured life would return to normal. I slept better for a few nights smug in the knowledge that I had done all I could to protect Rob and Eric.<br /><br />About a week later, I began to develop some rather strange symptoms. I was fatigued and overcome with a general malaise. I barely made it through the day. My arms and legs seemed heavy, my head pounded behind my eyes, and my body ached. I wanted to sleep all the time. I was sure I would shake the mysterious ailment in a few days.<br /><br />Days passed. Each day I struggled just to function. Then, a few weeks passed. We didn’t have health insurance, and I figured my vague complaints wouldn’t help my doctor figure out what was wrong with me. I remember being so despondent that I held a bottle of pills in my hand and considered taking them all. Instead, I just took a double dose and slept some more.<br /><br />After six weeks, I began to feel slightly stronger each day and within a couple of months, the mysterious illness vanished without a trace.<br /><br />I never connected my health issues to the swine flu vaccination, until the dangers of mass immunization began to make headlines. More people died from the immunization than from the swine flu.<br /><br />I recently read an article in the paper that the swine flu, or the politically correct H1N1 virus, may not be as bad as originally feared. The comforting word was that next fall an immunization may be available for it.<br /><br />Well, I'll be immunized for swine flu when pigs fly! I’d rather take my chances with the flu. Something tells me I might have a whole lot of immunity.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-53306024998214146802009-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.913-08:00Thank God For Friends - They Make Me Laugh!This came from a frien, who rote it I do not know, but you will find me in this.<br /><br /><br />I was gonna write something here _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _<br /><br /> <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/Sf3zYuVc_GI/AAAAAAAAAD4/lTjYl8BOQhg/s1600-h/coffee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 182px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/Sf3zYuVc_GI/AAAAAAAAAD4/lTjYl8BOQhg/s320/coffee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331685139956956258" /></a><br /><br />Forgetter Be Forgotten<br /><br />My forgetter's getting better,<br />But my rememberer is broke<br />To you that may seem funny<br />But, to me, that is no joke<br /><br />For when I'm 'here' I'm wondering<br />If I really should be 'there'<br />And, when I try to think it through,<br />I haven't got a prayer!<br /><br />Oft times I walk into a room,<br />Say 'what am I here for?'<br />I wrack my brain, but all in vain!<br />A zero, is my score.<br /><br />At times I put something away<br />Where it is safe, but, Gee!<br />The person it is safest from<br />Is, generally, me!<br /><br />When shopping I may see someone,<br />Say 'Hi' and have a chat,<br />Then, when the person walks away<br />I ask myself, 'who the heck was that?'<br /><br />Yes, my forgetter's getting better<br />While my rememberer is broke,<br />And it's driving me plumb crazy<br />And that isn't any joke.<br /><br />CAN YOU RELATE???<br />I DON'T REMEMBER WHO I SENT THIS TO !<br />LIVE, LOVE & LAUGH A LOT<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!!!!!!<br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-34061014912888310172009-05-02T06:24:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.443-08:00The Over-Fifty Diagnostic TestMy family doctor, bless his heart, is looking out for my overall health and decided I should have a colonoscopy. Geeze, it certainly sounded like a lot of fun, but somehow I had dodged the experience for more than fifty years. I had just reminded him I needed my annual mammogram and although that is pretty much having your breasts pancaked, it is not unbearable. To be perfectly honest, I had never heard anyone say anything good about a colonoscopy.<br /><br />I knew I was in trouble when the Miralax concoction filled my pitcher. Holy smokes, how was I supposed to drink that much liquid in two and a half hours? When I make something I really like, sun tea, for example, I usually throw about half of it out after three days.<br /><br />The five o’clock hour arrived and I faced off with the first eight ounces. I drank it in about five minutes. I charted a schedule on my junior legal pad at fifteen minute intervals and planned to be done before American Idol. I began to think that contrary to popular opinion, the prep really wasn’t worse than the test.<br /><br />I congratulated myself on not having to drink the gallon of gunk they tried to give Jim when he was in the hospital between nursing homes. H e had been kicked out of one home and after nearly a month in “regenerations” we had found another home for him. The hospital decided to investigate his rectal bleeding before discharging him. They assigned Eric and me the task of getting the gallon of liquid down him. After a few swallows, Jim gagged, clamped his mouth shut, and refused to drink it.<br /><br />“It isn’t going to happen,” Eric said. He tracked down the doctor and told him Jim would not drink the nasty stuff.<br /><br />“We’ll have to force it down him then,” the doctor said. “He needs this test.”<br /><br />No way were we going to allow that! Jim’s life was difficult enough without someone dumping liquids down him. I knew he would vomit and possibly choke on it. Against the hospitals’ recommendations, we signed a waiver to skip the test.<br /><br />I thought about Jim and drank my second glass as easily as the first. By the time I finished the third glass, my stomach sloshed and felt bloated. I began to feel queasy. I decided to call my daughter-in-law, Shawna, who is a student nurse. Eric answered the phone.<br /><br />“Ask Shawna what happens if I throw up,” I said.<br /><br />After consulting with her, he told me, “That’s not good. Try to keep it down.”<br /><br />My stomach had other plans. I called back later. “Part of it came back up.”<br /><br />“Do you want us to bring you more Miralax?” he asked.<br /><br />“No!” I began to look with each glass with dread.<br /><br />“Then quit being a kid. Suck it up and deal with it. Shawna says it would be better to drink it a little slower and get it all down.” Even through my queasiness, I had to smile at Eric’s “suck it up” lecture. How many times have I heard that from him?<br /><br />I threw up again, but managed to drink the rest of it. Now, I worried all night that I hadn’t gotten enough of the solution down. According to Dr. Google, I would have to begin all over again if I didn’t follow directions exactly.<br /><br />I made it to bed around midnight and was up at 4:00 to get into the hospital on time. Ginger took me to the hospital and reported in as my designated driver.<br /><br />The nurses were very nice and covered me with warm blankets. They inserted an IV lock and soon after, I exchanged good mornings with the doctor.<br /><br />“How are you today?” he asked.<br /><br />“Well, I’d rather be fishing and I don’t even fish,” I replied.<br /><br />Soon they started the drug, and I began to feel lightheaded. I shut my eyes for a few seconds and then opened them again. I could see a monitor. I watched as the doctor used a shiny loop to snare a small polyp. I was so fascinated with what they were doing, the time passed quickly.<br /><br />The nurse gave me a cup of coffee and some ice water to see if I could keep it down. Anesthetic of any kind usually makes me violently ill. The coffee made me queasy, but I decided it was because hospital coffee is usually on the nasty side. I had been alert throughout the procedure and thought they must not have given me much.<br /><br />I was starving after a day on liquids. “Let’s go get breakfast,” I said to Ginger.<br /><br />At the restaurant, I ordered biscuits and gravy. Before the food came, I rushed to the restroom to upchuck. Luckily I was alone so I didn’t create a swine flu panic.<br /><br />I boxed up my breakfast and Ginger drove me home. I spent the day sleeping and vomiting. I went to bed at nine o’clock and felt normal the next morning.<br /><br />The prep really was worse than the test. In fact, the test was a piece of cake compared to the aftereffects of the anesthetic.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-26846742476470844242009-04-30T14:26:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:33.997-08:00No Where To Go--------<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SfoXxmWr-vI/AAAAAAAAADw/ubFkzhJQc0s/s1600-h/100_1405.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SfoXxmWr-vI/AAAAAAAAADw/ubFkzhJQc0s/s200/100_1405.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330599249823136498" /></a><br /><strong></strong>The picture is of me and my elsdet granddaughter. She is 6 today, Ms. Emma Nichole.<br /><br />I have ben trying to get stuf done on my computer today, but I am just lost as to what I am trying to do. Postit notes allover the place, printed emails to reed and get throug. Just is not working. I haven sitting here looking at my note that saays blog and trying to get to this. Sometimes I just feel completly lost and have no idea where to go to do things. I feel like the odl brain is really slowing down and it wants to go somewhere and not with me. I just dont want to. Whateles can I say.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-57920422396548223272009-04-27T20:21:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.529-08:00Stand Up and Be CountedLast weekend I attended my second annual BPW State Conference. It was a busy and productive time. I thought I might be expelled from BPW for standing up for my strong—perhaps pigheaded—beliefs.<br /><br />I learned from the best the importance of being true to myself. Sometimes Jim exasperated me with his determination to stand up for his “principals”. I tried to get him to lighten up and admit that in a democracy, the majority ruled. No way! When he knew something was right, he defended his position. When I tried to reason with him, he merely declared, “That’s against my principals.”<br /><br />My problem with BPW had nothing to do with our state or local organizations. I am proud of my local Business and Professional Women’s Club. They are great women to work with and, boy, are we ever a busy group! We hold fundraisers, activities and award scholarships. The ladies in our local are my friends and I care about them.<br /><br />Even Jim with his principals, would have said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Unfortunately, BPW/USA is broken. My Jim-like round of stubbornness began when BPW/USA came up with a plan to charge a license fee for the BPW name.<br /><br />Our national organization has made some bad business decisions and is on the brink of bankruptcy. They lost nearly $200,000 on the national conference last year and then lost touch with the very women they were created to serve. After months of pleas for more money from our incredibly shrinking organization, BPW/USA finally realized the members couldn’t bail them out of their mess.<br /><br />I’ll spare you the details, but now BPW members are voting on a merger between BPW/USA and BPW Foundation. This is the same foundation that recently gave BPW/USA $500,000, but suspended scholarships for 2009-2010. Needless to say, that didn’t set well with a lot of members.<br /><br />The merger plan got worse. BPW/USA trademarked all their programs and the use of the BPW logo and even the letters “BPW”. This trademark was approved in January 2009. Why would they do such a thing? To protect the trademark, they said. In reality, it was to charge an annual license fee of $40 per person to any woman who wanted to remain a “BPW” member and continue the proud tradition of our foremothers.<br /><br />What if we didn’t want to pay the hostage fee to use our own name? BPW/USA’s response was to advise us to check with our Secretary of State to take the necessary steps to change state and local names. The Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. was chartered in 1938. Our legal council advised us that this is our name and we don’t have to change it.<br /><br />BPW was born ninety years ago in St. Louis by a group of women who stood up for their rights and to promote equality and fairness for women in the workplace. These forward-looking women were not afraid to stand up for their sisters and themselves.<br /><br />Our Missouri women have led the charge for the past ninety years. This weekend, we stood up for the organization we love and for the opportunity to revitalize and reorganize our group.<br /><br />After we discussed the proposed resolution to disassociate our Missouri Federation from BPW/USA, we were asked to stand if we supported the resolution. The room was filled with my BPW sisters who stood up for what was right.<br /><br />I believe BPW/USA underestimated the caliber of women who make up their membership. It wasn’t just the newer members who stood up, but long-term members who have been involved in the organization for decades. Women with integrity, courage, and principals stood up to be counted.<br /><br />___________________________<br />For information about the BPW Merger visit <a href="http://bpwgrassroots.blogspot.com/">http://bpwgrassroots.blogspot.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-84722050820535705652009-04-22T10:21:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:34.082-08:00WOW TO HBO, JUST WOW!<strong></strong><em></em>Last night and I need to do this while it is still fresh or atleast somewhat fresh in my brain, my Wife & I had the privilege of seeing the premier screeening in LA of the first part of the HBO series The Alzhiemers Project. What a job they did. I am humbled that I was a part of this movie. It truly shows a side that few people know about for thoose that live in this World of Mine, with me. It was done with style, grace, compassion and an understanding of what we go through.<br /><br />AGAIN WOW!!!! Thank You for asking me to be a part of it.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-27081479786218625262009-04-20T09:37:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:34.167-08:00speaking my mind????<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SeylETBib9I/AAAAAAAAADo/pTf9W7Mypj4/s1600-h/312284434210_0_SM.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 72px; height: 96px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SeylETBib9I/AAAAAAAAADo/pTf9W7Mypj4/s200/312284434210_0_SM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326813952517238738" /></a><br /><strong></strong>The littttle one is my one granddaughter Lillian. You know I am finding it more and more diffficult to maintain images in my mind of those I once knew and loved and even those that I care about and love now. A feeling of urgency is starting to take hold in my life. What it means I do not know. All final arragnements have been made and paid for, so that is not a concern any longer. I do not want to be around people much anymore, it is gettinng harder to tolerate them, I am sure I am no prize either now, probably neverr was. At first I told this disease of mine, that you may win, but you will know you have been in one hell of a fricken fight. Seems I am the one with the wounds and they don't heal or go away. Well soo much for my rambling.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-26010780094393740212009-04-07T08:40:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:34.250-08:00Mark Your Calendars - 5/10/2009<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>On this date HBO will start the firsst in a 4 part series on Alzhiemers. As you know I prefer to call it dementia. As the council on aging testified in March to Congress, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT EVEN CAUSES IT. Yet they feel thaat with the right structure and funds there could be the possibility of delaying its onset. It is finnally being recognized and called a disease and not just of the aged. Maria Schiver gave a moving talk, but the gentleman from Florida much more touch me with the story of his wife diagnosed at 55, about 65 now I am guessing no longer remembers him and the pain of it. He also talked about those who are not wealthy like Maria, face challenges of care that she can afford. I am not taking things from her, the devestation of her father is real and painful for the family. But I still do not believe the caregivers truly understand the pain and frustration and anger of it in this World. You go along ok for awhile. Then you fall down a part of the stairs. You go to get back up the stairs, but no way, they are gone lost forever and so has part of yourlife and who you are disappeared. Epedemic they call it, try PANDEMIC, with more than 10 million in this country alone suffering. These people did state a real truth, when you have seen one case of AD, you have seen just one case. We all progress differently. And as they said 'YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY SURVIVORS OF AD WALKING AROUND". THERE ARE NONE!!!!!!! Welcom eo My World<br /><br />I have got nasty lately on my blog and truly do not care, it is part of wo and what I amm becoming. BUT I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM PART OF THE DOCUMENTARY THAT WILL BE SHOWN ON HBO IN MAY. I thank them for having the balls to truly attack this head on. KUDOS HBO.<br /><br />If science has or ever gets the courage to take live brain cels so they can truly start to find out how this plague works, I AM READY AND WILLING TO LET THEM GO AT MY BRAIN, it is becoming of smaller and smaller value to me.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-34721936336803086492009-04-04T09:02:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:21.843-08:00Clown Noses, Laughter and TearsI heard rumors that the speaker at our Business and Professional Women’s meeting, Vickie Weaver, had asked for clown noses for each person in attendance. My first reaction was a mental rolling of eyes and words raced through my brain that I won’t put in writing.<br /><br />I’ve always enjoyed humor and having fun, but usually avoid acting silly. Clown noses sounded pretty ridiculous.<br /><br />Vickie presented the first part of her program on “The Art of Laughter” touting the therapeutic benefits of laughter. We’ve all heard about life threatening diseases being cured after a person watched several days of slapstick comedy.<br /><br />The dreaded moment arrived and clown noses were distributed. We opened plastic wrappers and plunked the red sponge noses over our real noses. Immediately, cell phones were removed from purses to take advantage of this photo op. I seriously hope there are not pictures of me on You Tube wearing a red sponge-Bob nose.<br /><br />I’m pretty sure our honored guests for the evening—a table of men, the chicken fryers from last fall’s fundraiser—thought we had lost our minds. A couple of them tentatively put on their noses, but they didn’t jump up like the rest of us to learn a variety of laughs.<br /><br />My favorite was the one that ended with throwing our hands in the air and shouting “Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!” Other favorites were the “hand shake” and the “thumbs up” laugh.<br /><br />I laughed so hard my sides hurt and the muscles on the back part of my head began to ache. I’m sure the good endorphins helped us through the serious topic that dominated our business meeting. We discussed the imminent demise of the 90 year old BPW organization that we all know and love. Our group is determination to continue with our local’s good work even if it requires a name change. Our BPW local supports community programs year round and annually awards scholarships.<br /><br />Vickie’s timing was perfect to remind us of the importance of not just a smile or chuckle, but a real full body laugh. It is impossible to take yourself too seriously while you wear a clown nose. Clown noses and laughter put troubles into perspective.<br /><br />After a blustery, cold Thursday, Friday morning was bright with the slight chill of a Colorado summer day, the kind of morning that always makes me miss Jim. It was my day off and I had time to think about personal pressing issues. My broken dryer topped the list. My sister-in-law, Ginger, had already dried two loads of clothes for me. Now, I needed to figure out how to get the dryer repaired or replaced.<br /><br />As I poured my first cup of coffee, a moment of utter sadness over life’s losses brought tears to my eyes. As I fixed my coffee, I thought about how much Jim loved a cup of coffee. He drank his coffee black. He wanted it steaming hot so he used a thick cup and drank a half-cup at a time. After his cup of coffee he would have fixed the dryer and it wouldn’t have been my problem.<br /><br />I’m not usually one to weep over what “should-a-could-a” been so I brushed aside the tears to answer the phone. A friend told me he was on the way over to look at my dryer. My spirits lifted, and while I drank my first cup of coffee, I enjoyed the lovely spring day. I began to hum—life can be fun regardless of those pesky day-to-day problems.<br /><br />I pulled my clown nose out of my purse. Should I just pop the nose on and practice my “Wheeeee!” laugh? Nah! No sense in being silly.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-69708614521313862442009-04-02T10:02:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:34.334-08:00A Change, I Am A CrookI OPENED WHAT IS CALLLED A GOOGLE ADSENSE ACCOUNT, SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MORE RESCOURES AT YOUR DISPOSAL THROUGH SIDE ADDS. WELL GOOGLE AND OUR PRESIDENT THINK THEY CAN JUST FIRE ANYONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE ADDS ARE GONE, SOMEONE WAS CLICKING ON THEM, GOD FORBID, WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY THEIR FOR. ANGRY YES I AM, I DO NOT LIKE BEING CALLED A THIEF OR IT BEING IMPLIED. <span style="font-weight:bold;"></span> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GOOGLE HAAS DONE. SO, IN MY INFINITE WISDOM I CHOOSE TO SAY SCREW THEM AND USE YAHOO FROM NOW ON. I REALISE THAAT MEANS CLOSING THIS BLOG DOWN AND STARTING OVER. BUT I TRIED TO GIVE YOU THE STORY ON THIS SIDE OF DEMENTIA AND OTHER RESOURCES, BUT <span style="font-style:italic;"></span>GOOGLE DOES NOT THINK YOU ARE WORTHY. SO IF THIS GOES AWAY, I WILL TRY AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE I WENT, IF I REMEMBER EITHER ONE.<br /><br />GOD BLESS YOU & THIS COUNTRY OF OURS!!!<br />joe<br /><br />PS THEY PAID ME AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT FOR WHOEVER CLICKED TO GET THE INFO THEY WANTED YES I AM A REAL FUCKIN CROOK $0.81, LOCK ME UP NOW!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-79882562546686722982009-03-18T12:35:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:34.503-08:00Tomorrow is My Day.Yes, yesterdaaay was the werin of the green to be sure. AAAAH but Friday is St. Joseph's Day, the werin of the red, so be carefull. Good thing I have a calendar on my desk by this beast or I would not know the day. Once I leave this point alll bets are off.<br /><br />Since it is my day here is to the world:<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F4%255F141%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_141.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_4_141%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br /><br />Wish you al well.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F107v%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_107v.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_107v%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-58872615007681718282009-03-04T13:04:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:34.669-08:00Yes I am Here, I Think!<strong></strong>Beeen somewhere for ahwile but not exactlly sure where. Have been attempting to build sume businesses on-line for the family for xtra income, once I cross that line. I feel it coming closer each day. I am really getting to be a pain. I have been arguing Politics whith a friend and have not been exactly kind in what I have said. He supports the Pres. and I do not trust him as far as I can throw an Elephant.OOh well so much for that. The Joe that started this blog cple of years ago is not here anymore. Infact the one that wrote her last year is gone. This is the part of the loss of me (dying) that bohters me, who will I become and what. Death of my body does not bother me, in fact it will be a blessing. I know my family is making memmories with me for when I am not here and that makes me happy. My youngest daughter, cut my hair. She called it a caldusec look, because we buzzzes the topand just trimed the sides. The name is because we live on a caldusac. When the sides stand up, because combing is not in my world, my wife calls me Albert, because I remind her of Albert Einstein, not bad company. Well you all have fun.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D36%252F36%255F15%255F54%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_54.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_15_54%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> in case you forgot BHO this is the symbol of our Country.<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-74638440126954502342009-02-28T20:09:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.273-08:00Snow Isn’t as Much Fun as It Used to BeWhen I was growing up, a big snow was a lot of fun. On snow days, we would drag out the wooden sleds with the metal runners.<br /><br />The Ozark hills provided perfect sledding terrain. The road formed a long sloping hill on the north side of our house and a short, steep hill on the south side. The problem with the north hill was the long walk to the top before the downhill ride. The other hill was a shorter walk and a faster ride.<br /><br />It wasn’t long before we figured out we could fairly fly downhill if we kick started the sled and plopped belly down and head first. Well, there was the time my brother, Donnie, ran his sled off the road crashing headlong into the barn. His broken nose ended his sledding that day, but it didn't slow the rest of us down.<br /><br />All this reminiscing began this morning when the forecast called for five inches of snow, and I needed to be in Fulton, MO, for our Lifelines for Women program. Earlier in the week we had seventy-degree weather, and I breathed a sigh of relief that Cate and I weren’t out of our minds when we selected the last day of February for the retreat.<br /><br />Yesterday, I heard the forecast—snow, snow, and more snow for Sedalia. I woke up this morning relieved to see the predicted snow had not fallen. I showered and relaxed for a few minutes until I noticed the ground was white. By the time I left home, snow salted the earth and began to accumulate to fulfill the meteorologist’s prediction.<br /><br />I expected the side roads to be slick, but was confident 65 Highway would be clear. Wrong. It was snow packed and traffic was running a smooth 30 miles per hour. OK. Surely, the Interstate would be plowed. Wrong again. The ditches were littered with cars, trucks, and trailers. I got caught behind a vehicle traveling so slow that a snow plow passed us. Have you ever been on the wrong side of a snow plow? I might as well have been in a blizzard. My wipers iced up and left blurry streaks all over my windshield. Eventually, I drove out of the storm and onto beautiful, dry pavement.<br /><br />The drive home was normal until I turned off the highway. The gravel road was challenging with its two beaten paths and pile of snow in the middle. The closer I got to home, the deeper the snow.<br /><br />Finally, I pulled into my detached garage, put on my snow boots and tromped through six inches of snow to my door. Is it my imagination or is walking in deep snow a lot like walking in quicksand?<br /><br />Snow just isn't as much fun as it used to be. Or, are my memories a little deceptive? If I thought hard enough, would I recall numb fingers and toes from the bone-chilling cold? I have forgotten any spills, bumps and bruises, but recall the fun of outdoor wintertime activities. In my memories, I don't think about lugging the sled to the top of the hill, I only remember the thrill of the downhill ride.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-12128970709356696732009-02-25T19:29:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.356-08:00Book soon to be released--Early Onset Blog: Essays from an Online JournalA book of my 2008 blog essays will soon be available on Amazon.com. The proof copy was mailed to me today! I'll keep you posted and let you know when I approve "Early Onset Blog: Essays from an Online Journal" for sale to the public.<br /><br />You might wonder why anyone would buy a book when the essays are free online, but we all have friends and relatives who do not have Internet access. Others are like me and prefer to curl up with a book instead of sitting in front of a screen reading. I refuse to take my laptop to bed with me!<br /><br />The Internet attracts people who have a second, or nano-second, to view and read material. If you prefer taking time to relish what you read rather than speeding through online posts, this type of book is for you.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-37643535117206416442009-02-25T11:00:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:34.753-08:00Just Another Day in Paradise!No wonder it took so long to get to the truth, I went to the wrong medical practioners. I received the following from a friend.<br /><br />TWO DIFFERENT DOCTORS' OFFICES<br /><br />Boy, if this doesn't hit the nail on the head,<br />I don't know what does!<br /><br />Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint.. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.<br /><br />The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, Is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for Surgery the following week.<br /><br />The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another week<br />and finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.<br />Why the different treatment for the two patients?<br /><br />The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.<br />The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.<br /><br />Next time take me to a vet! (PLEASE)<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-59977175236784174972009-02-21T11:07:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.443-08:00Health Fairs Make Me Sick!This week we had our annual health fair at work to collect the necessary data for a discount on our insurance premium. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer in discounts and feel fortunate to have good health insurance. When Jim developed dementia, our health insurance allowed us to choose the best treatment options available.<br /><br />My first objection is calling this experience a “fair”. I remember the Stover Fair with its thrilling rides: Ferris Wheel, the Bullet, Teacups, Swings, carnies, hamburgers cooked by the American Legion, and marching with my classmates in the parade. At this health “fair” I didn’t see a single carnival ride.<br /><br />Instead, I arrive at work well before 7:00 a.m., grumpy, because I haven’t had my morning coffee. The highlight of the health fair is to give up a vial of blood to get current numbers for the online health survey. Really, it isn’t the un-fun fair that gets us the discount—it’s filling out that darn survey.<br /><br />All of us employees have been successfully bribed with Donna’s biscuits and Kathy’s sausage gravy. Man-oh-man, the building smells good. Is that the scent of coffee wafting through the air?<br /><br />Soon, nurses line up, and with assembly line precision, shuffle employees to be weighed, get blood drawn, grab a blood pressure, and glaucoma screen. I give Nurse Lana a hug—she and I went to school together in Stover. We both know this isn’t a real fair, at least, not like the ones in our memories.<br /><br />A long line snakes in front of the nurses, but there is no waiting at the glaucoma screening station. I look at the green light and blink as air puffs into my eyes. My reading is above the normal range. Not a good way to start the day.<br /><br />I decide to work awhile and come back when the line is shorter. I take a cup of water to my desk and hunt for a printout that has mysteriously disappeared. I sip my water and try to ignore the headache behind my eyes.<br /><br />Finally, I risk the line again and it is much shorter. By now, my head has progressed to a dull ache.<br /><br />Lana motions me to weigh-in. It’s pretty humiliating to step on the scales in front of your co-workers. I didn’t need the scales and a handy-dandy chart to tell me my BMI is too high.<br /><br />Next stop, blood draw. Wheee, now we’re talking thrill. The nurse drawing blood is falling behind so Lana offers to draw mine. Although I’ve been guzzling water for three hours, she can’t find a vein. They are all in hiding. She looks at the other arm. No vein, no luck.<br /><br />Lana says, “I really don’t want to take it out of the back of your hand.”<br /><br />“I really don’t want you to either,” I said. Been there, done that. It hurts a lot more than the arm.<br /><br />Back to the left arm. Finally, she sees a faint glimpse of blue and sticks in her tiniest needle. No luck. After consulting with the other nurse, they decide I need to drink more water.<br /><br />I go fill my cup and drink two cups of water. I go ahead and have my blood pressure checked. It is high, of course.<br /><br />I drop back by the blood nurse. She looks at my arms and shakes her head. Then, she inspects the backs of my hands and now those veins are hiding too. She tells me to drink water and let her look again in ten minutes. My head pounds and I start to feel as nauseous as I did the last time I rode the teacups. Finally, I say, “Let’s go for it.” I’m hungry and caffeine deprived.<br /><br />She slaps the blue band around one arm and then the other. I make serious fists, trying to get the veins to pop up. She sticks the needle in. Nothing happens. Lana watches as the nurse tries another spot and when she gets close to the vein, it rolls. She prods around with the needle. “You may need to come into the office,” she says.<br /><br />“There it is!” Lana says. Thank goodness, blood is filling the vial.<br /><br />Finally! I take my golden ticket and head for the biscuits and gravy. You’d think that with my cholesterol, blood sugar, weight issues, I would eat fruit instead. No way. I filled my plate and headed back to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.<br /><br />By now, my head feels like a ticking time bomb. I take everything to my desk because I still have to find that darn printout and get a day-and-a-half worth of work done today. After I eat and drink coffee, my head still hurts. I’m not the only one with a sick headache. Brenda, Kathy, and Donna all say their heads hurt too.<br /><br />After two ibuprofen tablets, lunch and a diet Pepsi, my headache finally abates. Now that I feel better, I begin to find humor in the whole situation. The health fair made us sick!<br /><br />The bright point in the whole heath fair/discount experience is we don’t have to fast for the survey.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-62844276544647412442009-02-15T11:10:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:34.836-08:00To All of YOU from ME!!!While I know I am late, but I have not forgotten you my friends.<br /><br /><a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F8%255F44%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_8_44.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_8_44%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br /><br />Thanks for being out there for me.<br /><br />God Bless,<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-72718934962115325972009-02-14T07:12:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.529-08:00Love is Never Out of StyleThe movement to end Valentine’s Day seems more vocal this year. Has our society become so pragmatic that we think a day devoted to love is out of style?<br /><br />Roland S. Martin’s commentary, “Don’t be my Valentine,” takes the view that since it is not a religious holiday, we shouldn’t celebrate it like we do Christmas or Easter. Isn’t celebrating love as religious as Santa Claus and Easter Bunnies?<br /><br />Martin indicates that women have become greedy and needy for valentine’s gifts while men are “pawns” who empty “their wallets in order to satisfy their lovers or those around them.” Come on! Martin should get the “Grinch of Valentine’s Day Award.”<br /><br />I cannot recall one Valentine’s Day in my life when I wanted more than a card. Expecting or even wanting a dozen roses was never on my heart-shaped radar. Jim often purchased a single red rose at the local convenience store and personally delivered it to me at work. Sweet! I could have cared less if a co-worker received a room full of roses. All that mattered to me was the man I loved still wanted me to be his valentine. I’m afraid that I, and millions of other women, do not fit Martin’s stereotype.<br /><br />Some historians link the origin of Valentine’s Day to an ancient Roman pagan holiday to honor Juno, the Goddess of women and marriage. The Christian version is based on a different scenario. Emperor Claudius II devised a plan to build his army by prohibiting marriage. The idea was that soldiers were not volunteering to fight and die for the emperor because they were reluctant to leave their sweethearts behind. The legend is that Valentine was executed on February 14, 269 A.D. for performing marriage in opposition to Emperor Claudius orders. In 496, Pope Gelasius set aside the day of the priest’s death to honor St. Valentine for being a martyr for love.<br /><br />Historians claim the dates of many Christian holidays, including Christmas, were chosen to coincide with Roman holidays. Of course, it’s possible that the Romans had so many holidays that it was hard to miss one of them. Is February 14, pagan or Christian? My question to Martin is—what does the Bible call the greatest of all?<br /><br />Whatever the origins of the holiday, love is never out of style. It is a celebration of the heart and doesn’t inconvenience anyone. We don’t close the banks and post offices for it. Happy Valentine’s Day and may your world be filled with love.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-34322088518459501542009-02-06T18:17:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.615-08:00Do You Think You Can, or Think You Can’t?Jodi Stucker, Phi Beta Lambda advisor spoke at our Business and Professional Women's Meeting last night. I was impressed by the accomplishments of State Fair Community College students. Local PBL students competed at National Competition and two placed in the top ten. One young lady won first place in computer applications!<br /><br />At the end of the presentation, Jodi showed a slide of a beautiful fountain in front of their hotel in Atlanta. Across the bottom of the slide was a quote: “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.”—Henry Ford.<br /><br />The “can do” attitude was instilled in me at an early age. My Mom and Dad had a hard time raising eight kids. My mom worked at a factory, and dad farmed, drove a school bus, and worked long hours as a builder. They never threw their hands in the air and said, “Lord, how are we going to feed all these hungry mouths?” No, they just thought they could and they did.<br /><br />When our kids were small, I stayed home with them while Jim earned our living. For several years when we filed our income tax, we fell below the poverty level. Strangely, we didn’t really consider ourselves to be poor. We always paid our bills, and saved money when we had it to tide us through the times when we didn’t. We always knew we would make it. I’m not saying we never worried, but we never let setbacks destroy our lives.<br /><br />In 1976, I began classes at State Fair Community College under a program called Manpower. I had to be persistent to quality for the program because I was not the primary breadwinner in our family. The second roadblock was the counselor’s insistence that with high unemployment, I should study nursing instead of secretarial. Let me tell you I was squeamish about nursing—shots, illness, all that blood… I knew nursing was not the program for me.<br /><br />“You have to be top-notch to get a job in secretarial,” he said. “There just aren’t many jobs now. Nurses can always find work.” He totally didn’t understand why I wasn’t jumping at the opportunity to be a nurse.<br /><br />“I will be top-notch,” I assured him. At State Fair, I doubled up on classes and managed to get a two-year degree in slightly more than a year. Even with high unemployment, I found a job before graduation. I was able to do it because I thought I could.<br /><br />Later, the stakes became higher when Jim developed dementia. You can imagine that my squeamishness had not changed a lot over the years. Being a caregiver is much like being a nurse. You learn to deal with illness and occasionally blood. During the years of caregiving, I basically woke up each morning chanting the mantra: “I can make it through today.”<br /><br />Money can't buy love or good health, but the lack of it can make life tougher. Either accept the challenge to make it through the tough times and still enjoy life, or decide you can’t and sink into despair. The choice is yours—can or can’t? Just remember, you will be right.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-73516195522880728192009-02-04T12:06:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:34.920-08:00To My Wife!!!!!!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D16%252F16%255F12%255F169%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/16/16_12_169.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D16%252F16_12_169%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> Happy 30 years of putting up with me. Thanks for marring me you have made it worthwhile.<br /><br />Love,<br />Joe <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F4%255F54%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_4_54.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_4_54%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-45000610818311661162009-02-01T07:08:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.699-08:00It’s a Small World“It’s a small world” isn’t just a slogan for Disneyland and doesn’t just apply to children wearing Mickey Mouse ears. Other lands and cultures are not the mysterious settings for fairy tales and novels they once were. Now, we know people from those places, we may have toured them, or features on the Travel Channel makes us feel like we’ve been there.<br /><br />Other than rare trips to Sedalia or Kansas City, we shopped locally when I was a child. We bought clothes at Nolting’s Department Store and groceries at Cooper’s. My dad was a builder and he bought building supplies at Fagen’s Lumber Yard. Our choices were limited. The world was huge and Stover was just a minuscule blip on the surface.<br /><br />Now, we have access to online stores and can buy merchandise in a worldwide marketplace. Our choices are unlimited. My co-worker, Brenda, found a rare 50th anniversary National Rural Electric Cooperative Association hurricane lamp on E-bay. A few days later, she got a call from one of her neighbors who said, “I’ll just bring it by and refund your postage.” What are the odds that you buy an item off E-Bay and the seller is your neighbor?<br /><br />The Internet makes our world smaller whether transactions are with a neighbor or someone in another country. Millions of us reconnect with old acquaintances or make new friends on the Internet every day.<br /><br />How many people do you know that fell in love with a “soulmate” they met online? I watched an NCIS episode where Tony posed as a female to play a trick on McGee who thought he had finally met the perfect “woman”. It sort of reminds you of a Brad Paisley song, doesn’t it? A lot of people need Brad’s disclaimer, “I’m so much cooler online.”<br /><br />Through Internet searches, I tracked down two of Jim’s old army buddies. When Jim developed dementia, he couldn’t give the information we needed to file a PTSD claim. I turned to the Internet to contact two of the men he served with in Vietnam. One man had a fairly common name, but I found a piece of paper in Jim’s wallet with an address. Of course, it was unlikely he would be in the same hometown twenty-six years later. The other army buddy had an unusual name, but I had no idea where he lived. After some Internet detective work, I discovered one friend had died from alcoholism and the other lived in Maine.<br /><br />When I began this blog about a year ago, I didn’t expect many people would read it. Last week, my blog was viewed 222 times. Of course, that isn’t much considering I potentially have a worldwide audience, but it’s a lot for someone who grew up in Stover, population 757.<br /><br />I often receive emails that say, “I just found your blog today.” One of those emails came from my former sister-in-law. Which makes me think…it’s a small, small world after all.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-49345728891952857832009-01-28T08:58:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.004-08:00Hurray For Tuesday!!!!!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D11%252F11%255F6%255F103%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/11/11_6_103.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D11%252F11_6_103%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Yes normally I post how cruddy things are but Today is different.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D23%252F23%255F34%255F1%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_34_1.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D23%252F23_34_1%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> It is time to say Happy Birthday to the newest member of our family, Ms. Kiaya Lynn Patterson, born Tuesday 1/27/2009 at 2:56 PM. Towering over the Empire State Building standing 21" tall. Yes and you guys best becareful she weighted in at a solid 8lbs 14oz, more than capable of slapping you one upside the head if you get fresh. Please join these grandparents in wishing Morgan & Ross, along with Kaiya, Chase & Lilly all of God's blessing and happiness.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-41869623994280741532009-01-24T08:18:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.786-08:00Will Work for FoodSeveral years ago during another economic downturn, Jim and I had just left Wal-Mart. We didn’t have a lot of money, so we had carefully selected enough groceries for the week. We stopped in a line of traffic waiting to pull onto Highway 50. A scruffy looking man carried a sign that said “Will Work for Food.” Several cars in front of us rolled down windows and handed the man money.<br /><br />Jim said, “Roll down your window, Honey.”<br /><br />Jim was a generous sort of man so I thought he was going to give the guy some money. We knew what hard times were firsthand. I began to rummage through my purse looking for a few dollars. Jim beckoned the man to come over, and the man leaned into my window.<br /><br />Jim said, “Hey, I have a lot of work that needs to be done at my house. I can keep you busy for several days.” It was true that we could use help. Jim and I were building our house with sweat equity, and we had worked on it for months, and had many more to go.<br /><br />I thought maybe Jim had lost his mind. No way did I want this man at my home with my family. Besides I watch a lot of TV and was pretty sure this guy looked like serial killer material.<br /><br />The man got a strange look on his face and no longer seemed the humble job seeker of a few moments before. He looked to the right. He swept his gaze to the left. “I have to go,” he said. “Those people in the next car want to talk to me.”<br /><br />I rolled my window up and slammed down the button to lock the door in case that Charles Manson looking character changed his mind. “Are you crazy?” I asked Jim. “I wouldn’t want that man to even know where we live, much less hang around for days!” I was huffy.<br /><br />Jim just laughed. “Hell, there’s no way that guy wants to work. He only wants a handout.”<br /><br />I always hated it when Jim was right. It would have suited my personality to hand the guy some money, but Jim was a man with quick judgment who could spot a scam artist a mile away.<br /><br />We pulled onto the highway. “You still took a chance,” I said. “I would have been scared to death if that guy had climbed in the van with us.”<br /><br />“Wasn’t going to happen,” Jim said. “You don’t look for a job standing out on the street holding a sign.”<br /><br />I looked in the rearview mirror and saw the man back at the corner with his “Will Work for Food” sign held high as another car rolled to a stop and the window came down. Sometimes it’s easier to hand over money than to judge character. In hard economic times, scam artists work hard to take your money and steal donations that could go to people who really need it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-83596323342063219432009-01-17T07:53:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.871-08:00Airplane Crash SurvivorsI’m not a frequent flyer, but I fly often. When I clicked on the headlines of the US Airways crash, it was one of the strangest sights I had ever seen. The jet rested on top of the water with survivors standing on the wings waiting for their turn to be rescued. I immediately Googled the crash to see what else I could learn. The miracle story just seemed to get better and better. Then I saw a YouTube of an Airbus Crash. Wow! That was quick.<br /><br />I clicked on the video and watched a plane getting lower to the ground. I was disappointed as the plane went out of sight because I wanted to see the water landing. When I thought the video would end, the jet exploded and a plume of smoke and flames shot skyward. Wrong video.<br /><br />It did give me pause. Why did one jet crash and burn and the other land in water and float long enough for all passengers and crew to be rescued? What separates victims from survivors?<br /><br />Why are so many people terrified of flying while others, like me, get no more excited than stepping on an elevator? It has nothing to do with bad experiences, but seems more to be something hard-wired in our brains.<br /><br />I’ve had a few harrowing experience aboard aircraft, but it hasn’t interfered with my love of travel. When I was eighteen, I flew to Hawaii where Jim and I planned to marry while he was on R&R from Vietnam. My first flight was a non-stop out of Kansas City to San Francisco. After a breakfast of eggs benedict, the flight attendants (called stewardesses back then) picked up our trash and made sure everyone’s seats were in an upright position and seatbelts securely fastened. The plane began a sharp descent and we came in for a landing.<br /><br />As the plane barreled down a runway seemingly in the middle of nowhere, police cars, taxis, fire trucks and ambulances followed us. As soon as the plane stopped, an announcement came over the speakers, “Exit from the nearest exit and get into the taxis.” We were herded into a building and stood beside our luggage as it was searched. Our emergency landing in Denver was a precaution because someone (“do any of you know someone who would have done such a thing?”) phoned-in a bomb threat specifying our flight and destination. In 1986, about two weeks after the Challenger explosion, I flew back to Hawaii. That time a TWA plane came so close to us that my sister swears she saw the shocked look on the pilot’s face.<br /><br />It is not so much experiences as our personalities that determine how we feel about life’s challenges. Some of us are survivors and expect to continue moving forward with our lives. Others feel like victims and expect more catastrophes in their future.<br /><br />Those of us who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s, or lost loved ones to the disease, know the only survivors are the caregivers. We are the pilots who land the plane on the water and wait patiently on the wings with knowledge in our hearts that we will endure, overcome, and continue forward with our lives.<br /><br />My next scheduled flight is to the Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum. During these hard economic times, we need to ask for continued fast-track research to find a cure for the 5.2 million Americans with Alzheimer’s. It is unthinkable that all my friends with dementia are on a plane that will crash and burn. We need to adopt a survivor mentality for those with Alzheimer’s, and not lose hope that science can bring them in for a safe and miraculous landing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-58460596051326489932009-01-12T09:14:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.088-08:00Lost In Time!I have jsut relized that we are already at the 10th of January. A new president willl take office in ten days I think it is. When I first got the wonderful news of this new paradise that I am to lvie in, it did not bother me too much. I felt that as with ofther things it was just my turn, deal with it. It was not bad at first I had many good days with small moments in them and then days that just who the hell knows where I was. But they have seemed to merge together. Truly I have a proble with what day it is, even though I keep a calendar by my computer and mark the days off. I have gone back to sticky notes, but the real kick is remembering to use this stuff. I am not angry with the condition, but it really plays hell with you. I do not venture out alone, who knows where I will be. I find spending lengths of time with outrthers becoming quite uncomfortable and extremely distracting. My patients, which I never had, just does not handle it well. I am loosing my train here, so I guess I will go wait for a bus. Catch Ya later.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-47451592143011117692009-01-10T08:40:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:22.958-08:00I am an Ambassador!Yesterday was an exasperating day at work—one of those days when Murphy’s Law was king and lord of my office. Phone interruptions broke my concentration and had begun to really annoy me. It seems everybody has a problem and dog-gone-it I had enough of my own!<br /><br />When one more call came in, I forced my voice to a calmness I no longer felt. This call, instead of adding to my angst, lifted my spirits. Ashley Burden from the Mid-Missouri Chapter called to ask me if I would be an Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador for Pettis County.<br /><br />“Sure,” I said. “What will I be doing? Do I need to know a foreign language?”<br /><br />“No foreign language required. And you will pretty much be doing what you already do,” she said. “As ambassador, you will speak to civic organizations—you know, give the fifteen minute spiel on the services provided by the Chapter.”<br /><br />“I know a lot of fifteen minute spiels,” I admitted. I learned the fifteen minute spiels years ago when I was Memory Walk Coordinator and I haven’t shut up since.<br /><br />During the course of our conversation, Ashley also told me about a new program called LEARN to address early stage problems. This exciting program funded by a Missouri Grant will provide additional guidance for a family when their loved one is first diagnosed. Additional respite funds are available through this program. I know from personal experience how important respite is for the primary caregiver.<br /><br />Then, we shifted gears to the March 23-25 Public Policy Forum. This year marks my ninth consecutive Forum! I’m still as excited about going as I was the first time. My sister is going with me this year and we plan to spend some quality time in our nation’s capitol. The Chapter wants to send a person in the early stages and his or her caregiver to Washington, DC. I promised Ashley that I would think about possible candidates from our area.<br /><br />Ashley got another phone call and had to hang up. I looked at the pile of papers on my desk: month end/year end reports with issues. Numbers buzzed through my brain relentlessly working on this brain-teasing puzzle. A one page report that should have taken less than ten minutes to verify had turned into a full day quest for answers. Our conversation had been short—less than five minutes, but it brightened my day and reminded me that the most important things in my life were not on my desk. I had let work problems fill my mind with anxiety.<br /><br />More important that comparing spreadsheets to printouts are Girl Scout cookies, basketball games, math club, and baby smiles. Important things are editing my book and submitting it to an agent. Now, an important thing is taking my Alzheimer’s volunteerism to the Ambassador level.<br /><br />My Oxford American Dictionary shows one definition of ambassador as “an official messenger.” I have been a messenger for the Alzheimer’s Association since my first contact with them before we had a diagnosis for Jim. Soon, I will be “official” but that won’t make me stodgy. Being an Alzheimer’s Volunteer for me is not something I do just because I want to; it’s something I am compelled to do.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-56081001909682273512009-01-03T13:05:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.042-08:00Un-Deck the HallsWell, here it is, the first Saturday in January and I haven’t taken down my Christmas decorations. The worse thing about putting it off, we have been blessed with sunshine and 70 degree weather today.<br /><br />One thing I’ve learned after living my whole life in Missouri is how unpredictable the weather can be. I walked outside earlier to check my mail and wore a short sleeved tee-shirt. Two weeks ago, we had an artic blast that left our water frozen and I went outside wearing my insulated coveralls, a heavy coat, and a stocking cap pulled low on my forehead. I looked and felt like the little boy in <em>Christmas Story</em> who couldn’t bend his arms or legs once he donned his snowsuit.<br /><br />Thawing frozen pipes used to be Jim’s job. Then, after dementia limited Jim’s abilities the responsibility shifted to my shoulders. Several years ago on a cold winter night his mom called me to tell me our water had frozen. We shared a well and it was behind her house next door. Jim sat in front of the TV watching <em>Walker Texas Ranger</em> and didn’t even look at me when I told him the news. I put on a pair of Jim’s coveralls and called my son, Eric, and brother-in-law. By the time I got decked out in my warm clothes, the two of them were assessing the situation.<br /><br />“Your dad didn’t even care that the water was frozen,” I told my son. “He’s still at home watching TV.”<br /><br />“I bet he would have cared if the electricity went out and he couldn’t watch <em>Walker</em>,” Eric said.<br /><br />There is no such thing as typical weather in Missouri. You just take it as it comes and deal with it.<br /><br />For some reason, I thought that once the holidays were over, I could relax for a while. Ha! The next few months seem to be busier than ever. Today, I need to un-deck the halls and have two meetings—one tomorrow and one on Thursday—that I need to work on. So, I’ve just been flitting back and forth between reports, emails, laundry, taking down decorations, and thinking that I would really like to go out on the deck, put my feet up and watch the birds.<br /><br />It’s foolish to waste a spring day in the dead of winter, and I do need to take the Christmas lights off the deck railing. After all, by next Saturday the lights may be covered with a coat of ice and subzero wind chills might make me want to burrow into a blanket and watch an <em>NCIS </em>marathon.<br /><br />My granddaughter will be here soon and if I don’t get the halls un-decked, she will no doubt tell me, “Grandma Linda, Christmas is OVER.” I have the Christmas tree put away, but still have a few hours work ahead of me. I can’t decide if the chirping birds outside my window are urging me to hurry up and finish, or just put it off until another day.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-68710556061226684712009-01-01T10:34:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.172-08:00Welcome to 2009!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F6%255F49%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_6_49.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_6_49%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Well the New Year of 2009 is well upon us. New challenges, changes and I am afraid much of the same old bullshit. I hope your year is good to you, I know that mine will only get tougher, but that is alright. Just think if I didn't have this wonderful sickness, YOU MIGHT. So I am doing you a favor. May you find comfort in you life and giving to others.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D26%252F26%255F6%255F4%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_6_4.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D26%252F26_6_4%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />My world and how I feel in it much of the time.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D28%252F28%255F2%255F10%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/28/28_2_10.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D28%252F28_2_10%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-71644551333763582822008-12-30T08:52:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.257-08:00This Pretty Well Sums It Up!The folowing is form some friends of mine, slightly more mature than I and walk in my World. Though I forget many of a friend until I get an email, it still amazesss me that you can grow to love and care about those you have never seen or shared a spoekn word with.<br /><br />HOW TRUE IT IS<br /><br />Another year has passed<br />And we're all a little older.<br />Last summer felt hotter<br />And winter seems much colder.<br /><br />I rack my brain for happy thoughts,<br />To put down on my pad,<br />But lots of things, That come to mind<br />Just make me kind of sad.<br /><br />There was a time not long ago<br />When life was quite a blast.<br />Now I fully understand<br />About 'Living in the Past'..<br /><br />We used to go to friends homes,<br />Baseball games and lunches.<br />Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,<br />And after-funeral brunches.<br /><br />We used to have hangovers,<br />From parties that were gay.<br />Now we suffer body aches<br />And sleep the night away.<br /><br />We used to go out dining,<br />And couldn't get our fill.<br />Now we ask for doggie bags,<br />Come home and take a pill.<br /><br />We used to travel often<br />To places near and far.<br />Now we get backaches<br />From riding in the car.<br /><br />We used to go out shopping<br />For new clothing at the Mall<br />But, now we never bother...<br />All the sizes are too small.<br /><br />That, my friend is how life is,<br />And now my tale is told.<br />So, enjoy each day and live it up...<br />Before you're too darn old!!<br /> <br />HAPPY NEW YEAR<br />& thanks for making my days enjoyable by your Blog and e-mails funny or sad .<br /> <br />Wally & Delores<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-64999986135807496002008-12-27T07:28:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.128-08:00The Twelve Pounds of ChristmasAfter eating my way through the holidays, I think the popular Christmas song is misnamed and should be changed to the “Twelve Pounds of Christmas.” I always did find that song annoying and after “five golden rings” I was ready for it to end. If you think of it as food, five should be enough. Five holiday meals should be enough—let me count—yes, that’s how many I had.<br /><br />Whew, sure glad I didn’t have six. If I gained two pounds at each meal and had six, I couldn’t stay within the twelve pounds and have any cookies, peanut clusters, caramel popcorn, fudge, fruitcake, solid milk chocolate bar, or any other holiday goodies to die for. With the damage to my cholesterol and triglycerides, “to die for” might not be a good expression to use.<br /><br />I was going to go to the gym yesterday to minimize the damage, but they were among the businesses that closed the day after Christmas. If I reversed my habits and went to the gym three times a day and ate three times a week I would drop the twelve pounds of Christmas in a hurry.<br /><br />I can’t even use the weather as an excuse to curl up on the couch and watch the snow fall. After a few days of bone chilling weather and frozen water pipes, we warmed up to 63 degrees. Yesterday my weather alert warned of flash floods, this morning the shrill alert was a TORNADO WARNING. A huge storm moved through the adjoining county to the southwest of us…not a good place to be when they normally move northeast.<br /><br />Usually at least during a storm I run up and down the stairs with the question running through my mind—to the basement? Up the stairs? This is not the exercise I had in mind for two days after Christmas—the Stairmaster of Tornado Alley. That sounds like a combination of exercise and a video game.<br /><br /> Do I take my decorations down, or let them go to Oz? I wonder if a Christmas tree has ever had lightning come in on it. I’m enjoying my tree, but I hear the rumble of thunder through the sound of the pouring down rain. Christmas has come and gone, but as long as I leave up the tree and decorations, it looks like Christmas in my house. I may need to shut the blinds because it looks like a spring thunderstorm outside.<br /><br />The good news is most of the food is gone. Well, I do have a cheese ball in the fridge. It should be good for a couple of pounds. Twelve pounds should not be insurmountable. I would need to lose a pound a month. I probably lost 100 pounds in 2008. Let me explain before you call Jenny Craig and give them my name for a new spokesperson. I lost the same five pounds over and over. I think my scales are stuck in a five pound section.<br /><br />Jim used to think my agony over five or ten pounds was silly. He said I was the weight I was supposed to be and I was battling nature by trying to lose weight. “Everyone is different,” he said. “The difference between eating what you want and what your diet allows is about five pounds. Is it worth it?”<br /><br />My doctor thinks it is, but I’m not really sold. Five pounds? Bah Humbug! Twelve pounds…break out the Melba toast.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-22660511556346859852008-12-21T05:44:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.213-08:00Secret Santa of SedaliaSedalia has gotten a holiday boost from our own personal hometown Secret Santa. This lady has spread good cheer throughout our community and has distributed $6000 of her own money to those in need. She has gone door to door, waltzed into Hardees and McDonald’s, the Salvation Army store, and caught people exiting their cars. Everyone’s first reaction is disbelief. When did we become so skeptical that we don’t believe in Santa Claus?<br /><br />Like a true Secret Santa, her identity remains unknown. The Sedalia Democrat reporters follow in her wake to interview recipients. Out-of-work people, down-on- their-luck people, and worried-about-how-to-pay-for Christmas/taxes/heat/prescriptions—fill in the blank—people get tears in their eyes as they describe what they will do with their $50 or $100 the lady in red gave them.<br /><br />We all want to make a difference in the world and here is one lady who found an anonymous way. She borrowed her idea from the millionaire Secret Santa in Kansas City. Larry Stewart's identity became known shortly before he died in 2007 after he had given away more than $1.3 million. Another Santa donned a red hat and continued the tradition in Kansas City, but this is our town’s first Secret Santa.<br /><br />Somehow, I don’t think this lady is a millionaire. She might be, but I think she is just a caring, generous person who raided her bank account to spread Christmas cheer in a world where so many face hard economic times. Her gift comes from the heart without an ulterior motive of self-promotion. She cares, she loves, and she gives.<br /><br />Most pictures in the paper are taken from an angle that hides her face. You see the flowing Santa “beard” and her face is obscured by the red-and-white Santa hat pulled low. One lone picture showed enough of her face that people who knew her well might have recognized her, but the photographers didn’t make that mistake again.<br /><br />She is adamant that she remain anonymous. She doesn’t want public glory, only the private knowledge that she has made a difference in her own community.<br /><br />“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa” but <em>he</em> doesn’t live at the North Pole, <em>she</em> lives in Sedalia. “Merry Christmas” isn’t just a trite phrase to her, it’s a personal mission.<br /><br />I tip my Santa hat to you, Ms. Secret Santa. Thank you for reminding us that the greatest blessing of Christmas comes from spreading good cheer and giving generously to those who have less than we do.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-52798060787697902872008-12-20T11:25:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.341-08:00Have Fun While You are Here!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D10%252F10%255F1%255F1%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_1_1.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D10%252F10_1_1%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a>Not being politically correct i wish you a happy Chanukah<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F7%255F13%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_7_13.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_7_13%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> and a very Merry Christmas <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F2%255F85v%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_2_85v.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_2_85v%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> and best wishes for whatever holiday you celebrate.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy the column at the right. There is a sight that shows 800 live world cams to watch. You can view the ever changing pictures of endangered animals. What you Tube also nearer the bottom there is a sport to go watch TV shows on different networks for your enjoyment. And you can also check out Big Ticket Depot: much like ebay & Craigs List - where you can sell or join your choice of things to do. Also this day in History.\<br /><br />So much for spel chekcer now you have me. The days messsh together and trying to get here is a real problem. The dyas all seem to run together. I hope you enjoy the smileys, just a little fun to bring into the site. I just wish this World of Mine would or colud make up its own mind as to wherre I will be during each day. Sorry but the old brain cell hass to many thoughts init right now and I am a bit mixed over what to soy so, take care for now.<br /><br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours! <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-19518274246973655822008-12-14T17:10:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.300-08:00Small Town Book SigningBook signings aren’t for the timid or those lacking in self confidence. You may sit with pen in hand ready to sign the book you crafted with love and watch people walk by who refuse to make eye contact. You may sell one book, twenty books, or no books at all.<br /><br />My sister asked me to have a book signing at her craft booth the day of the Stover Christmas Parade. It sounded intriguing to me to have a book signing in my old hometown.<br /><br />I grew up south of Stover and rode the school bus for about an hour each way to go to school in town. When the bus bumped over the Rock Island railroad tracks, I read the “city” limit sign proclaiming the population to be 757. I think dogs and cats might have been included in that total. One of the advantages and disadvantages of a small town is that you know everyone.<br /><br />Seeing a stranger was an oddity and noteworthy, especially since Stover had no tourism. On a hot summer day in 1968, I met a young man with the broadest shoulders I had ever seen. Jim’s uncle introduced us in front of the Dew Drop In Cafe. Jim still wasn’t a total stranger since his Uncle Orvie knew my mom and her brothers and they played music together.<br /><br />After Jim and I married, we moved away from the area, and other than visiting my folks, I never spent much time in Stover. On my rare visits, I sometimes saw people I once knew well, but I no longer recognized most of them. People change and, gosh, how “they” have aged!<br /><br />The week before the signing, the local newspaper ran an article about me complete with picture. Funny, how I looked like my mother in that picture. I was hopeful that a few people would read the article and show up for the signing. I took my book, <em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love</em>, and <em>A Cup of Comfort for Families with Alzheimer’s</em>. At most book signings I only have non-fiction Alzheimer’s books, but this time I took <em>Well Versed</em> and <em>Echoes of the Ozarks</em> which include some of my fiction stories. I saw people I hadn’t seen in years, sold a lot of books, and really enjoyed the book signing.<br /><br />Last week, I was the guest on a local radio talk show with Jack Miller. We talked about Alzheimer’s and about the two Alzheimer’s books. More than five million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, so odds are you know someone with the disease. Either book will help you understand how the disease affects the entire family.<br /><br />This Friday, I have a book signing at Sedalia Book and Toy. I will be signing my book and my story in the Cup of Comfort book. Sedalia Book and Toy manager, Sandy Diamond, sent out invitations to people we thought might be interested in coming. I e-invited others and have a list to still invite. I’ve lived in Sedalia for thirty-five years so this is my second hometown book signing this month.<br /><br />If you are in Sedalia December 19 between 2 and 4, please stop by Sedalia Book and Toy and browse through their great books. If you want to learn more about Alzheimer’s and become a better friend, family member, or caregiver for someone with dementia, stop by my table. Whether you buy a book or simply pick up free Alzheimer’s brochures, don’t be afraid to make eye contact.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-12739711809343194602008-12-07T07:12:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.385-08:00Ten Thousand Cicadas and a Drummer BoyHealth wise, last year was my luckiest ever. I missed all the sickness and didn’t have so much as a cold. We all know what a difference a year can make.<br /><br />Last week, I came down with a cold. I can handle a measly little cold by taking one day really easy. So, I spent last Sunday self medicating, fully confident that Monday would be full steam ahead.<br /><br />I felt better Monday morning so I went to work at 7:00 a.m. as usual. About 10:00, my ear stopped up. I called the doctor and he penciled me into a 12:00 cancellation.<br /><br />“You have an ear infection,” he said. He wrote a prescription for an antibiotic and sent me on my way. By now the whole left side of my face throbbed.<br /><br />At Wal-Mart, I dropped off the prescription at the appropriate window and went to buy some chicken soup and green tea. While I shopped, I remembered the problems Jim had with his ears and how he couldn’t tell us how it hurt. Jim had aphasia and rarely spoke so it took observation to determine when he wasn’t feeling well. One time, his balance was off, and a nurse at the nursing home decided to take him across the lot to our family doctor’s office to have his ears irrigated.<br /><br />“Does he speak at all?” the doctor asked the nurse as Jim silently sat on the examining table. The doctor visited Jim regularly in the nursing home and hadn’t heard Jim say anything in years.<br /><br />“Not much,” the nurse said.<br /><br />The doctor poked an Otoscope in Jim’s ear to take a look.<br /><br />“Jesus Christ!” Jim yelled and jumped off the examining table scowling at the doctor.<br /><br />“I thought you said he didn’t talk,” the doctor said.<br /><br />“I said, ‘Not much’,” she replied.<br /><br />I pushed my thoughts of Jim aside and got in line behind a woman with coupons and questions dealing with a novice checker. Ten minutes later, I paid for my few items and headed back to the pharmacy to check on my prescription. After I stood in another line, I picked up my medicine and headed home.<br /><br />By now my ear sounded like it had ten thousand cicadas in it. Occasionally it would “thump” like the little drummer boy had given it a whack. After all these years, I began to think of an ear drum as a real drum.<br /><br />After a short winter’s nap, I woke up and the pressure wasn’t as bad, but I felt liquid in my ear. I used a Kleenex to wipe out my ear and bright red blood covered it. I called my doctor at home. He explained how the pressure had ruptured my ear drum, but he was confident that it would heal. “I never knew of anyone to bleed to death from their ear,” he said.<br /><br />Oh, crap. I hadn’t even thought of that! Didn’t the cowboys in TV westerns often bleed from their ears right before they died?<br /><br />The doctor was correct, and I didn’t bleed to death and the ear eventually stopped hurting. I’ve become accustomed to the humming and the drummer boy has laid down his sticks. I can’t hear well out of the ear yet and my sound perception is askew. When I turn on the water, it sounds like it is running somewhere off to my right. My hearing has always been excellent and I thought God was compensating me for my poor eyesight. According to Google, my ear drum will probably heal on its own, but I have a few options if it doesn’t before I need to break out the hearing aides.<br /><br />For now, it’s always summer in my ear, and it’s a good year for cicadas.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-57725402655696728112008-12-04T12:43:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.424-08:00Lack of Feed Back!I use to get many more emails and comments on my postings, with over 12,000 visitors I brain thinks I would hear more. I guess maybe of late I have tried to show too much humor and people want the gore. Well the humor is howw I keepp my self together. Without it thiss life would be darn near unbearabel. I is no fun trust me sitting here tryiing to write to you and tell you that the wolrd really sucks.I does not get out of my head to the keyboard when I want it to. Tihngs do not get better here, they just slowly go down hill. I read all the new studiies and new stuff to try and I really laugh at this so calllled professionals. They all contradict each other, I wonder if they are not suffers as well. March to stamp out Alhzeimers, RIGHT! Asses don't even know what really causes it to start wity, great progress in over 100 years. I am not thrilled with having AD & FTD, but that is the way it is period. You should try it some day, look at people you have been with for 30+ years and not even know who they are, let alone what the hell they are talking about. Damn most of the time I am not sure what I am saying or trying to say. Well old ½ of brain cell here will say good bye for now. Be good to yourselves.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-36753357541690388442008-12-02T09:09:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.509-08:00December Already!!!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F2%255F99%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_2_99.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_2_99%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Yes it is that time of year again. For me Thanksgiving seems years ago. Time no longer has a start and finish for me.<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F2%255F58%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_2_58.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_2_58%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a> Well it will be here soon, probably sooner than I think and be gone before I know it was here. This year has been fillled with manny things for me. Or I think it was, I am no longger sure of it. But I still awake each day and breathe, I might looose most of the day but I am still there somewhere for it. Funny somedays I feel in total control and then for days I have no idea what is going on. I try to get to this each day, but at last it does not work that way. Early or not at all for the most part. Catch Ya All Later.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours! <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-3610057414348852852008-11-29T06:04:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.470-08:00A Christmas Tradition UpgradeI want to thank everyone who helped the economy by following tradition and shopping on Black Friday, especially those of you who did not trample anyone in the process. That had pretty much been a joke until this year when a young man was killed by a stampede of bargain hunters at a Wal-Mart store in New York.<br /><br />My one and only experience of Black Friday shopping occurred probably thirty years ago. I let my sister-in-law talk me into standing outside K-Mart waiting for the doors to unlock. I felt suffocated by the crowd when we all crammed through the doors. Thank goodness no one stood in the path.<br /><br />Inside the store, people grabbed and slam dunked merchandise into their shopping carts. I was pushed and shoved aside while frantic Christmas shoppers jerked merchandise out of my hands. Finally, I walked out of the store without buying anything. To me, this was the ugly side of Christmas and only verified Jim’s mantra, “Christmas is too commercialized, and no one remembers what it’s all about.” The birth of Christ was less important than department store Santas.<br /><br />Jim was called “Scrooge” and “Grinch” because of his lack of enthusiasm for presents. It was up to me to purchase all the gifts because he wanted no part of it. Our anniversary is five days before Christmas and Jim always wanted to exchange our gifts on that day, but I always held back a few “Christmas presents.” We married young and I had a lot of growing up to do before I finally admitted that Christmas had become a time of pressure for me and lacking in the “Merry” department.<br /><br />From the time our kids were small, we always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. After they were grown, we began to limit our gift giving to one small gift. Men bring a gift for a man, and women bring a gift for a woman. The first year we had the gift exchange, my youngest son said, “This is it, Mom. Do not buy anything else!” From that moment, I no longer had to worry about size or taste, want or need for any of the adults in the family.<br /><br />Then the grandkids were born. Soon we were back to buying loads of presents. Even Jim got involved in the search for toys to make their eyes light up. Have you noticed how hard it is to buy for kids, especially when they get older? The presents start getting more expensive and the kids more particular. You begin to think you are throwing money at gifts that just get pushed to the back of the play room.<br /><br />A few years back, I begin to notice I was spending more and more money for fewer presents and didn’t always feel good about my selections. Then, I came up with an idea. I began to buy my grandkids Certificates of Deposit for their education. I still get them other gifts, but I don’t feel like I have to buy them a “big” gift. The big gift is something they won’t outgrow or push aside after a few hours of play.<br /><br />Traditionally, my kids, grandkids, and a few special people come to my house on Christmas Eve. My youngest son, Rob, makes his chili and we have a deli tray. It is a relaxed, joyful celebration. This year, Rob is on call and can’t come. He says that will be true for the next seven Christmases! After throwing a few ideas around, my oldest son, Eric, suggested we have our celebration on the Saturday before Christmas. It is such a brilliant plan that I couldn’t imagine why I hadn’t thought of it.<br /><br />The CDs are bought, I have my “woman’s gift” and a few hours of leisurely shopping and I’ll be done. No Black Friday required! I feel good about Christmas, and I know Jim would have liked our tradition upgrade. After all, this year’s gift exchange will be on the thirty-ninth anniversary of a Hawaiian wedding between a college student and an Army Sp/4 on R&R from Vietnam.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-91863613087246557972008-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.593-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F5%255F23%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_5_23.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_5_23%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />I know many in other countries and of spiritual beliefs have already celabrated their Thanksgiving Day, but I wanted to wish you one from the Good Old USA <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D26%252F26%255F6%255F7%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_6_7.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D26%252F26_6_7%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Before I forgot again, i feleet I had better get this done. May you all enjoy the day and may you always be free. From My World to yours, be good to yourself.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours! <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D14%252F14%255F1%255F106%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_1_106.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D14%252F14_1_106%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-57274229198803693522008-11-23T16:27:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.555-08:00It’s Easier to Be Thankful if You’re Not a TurkeyThanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but for most people it just gets lost between Halloween and Christmas. As soon as the Halloween costumes and decorations go on sale, Christmas carols fill store aisles with holly jolly holiday tunes. The TV Guide is jam packed full of Christmas specials and Christmas music plays in about half the commercials. A nearby town had their Christmas parade this weekend—a full week before Thanksgiving!<br /><br />Some people already have Christmas decorations up, but I’m still in autumn mode. I don’t want to skip Thanksgiving. It’s time to reflect on the things I’m thankful for. The economic crisis has made me think about things I normally take for granted. With my hemorrhaging 401K, I’m thankful I’m still employed. With all the defaulted mortgages, I’m thankful my home is paid in full.<br /><br />I’m thankful none of the diets I’ve gone on have worked. I have extra pounds to tide me over if I have to cut back on my grocery bill. If I miss a few meals, I will be thankful to have an entire new wardrobe of “skinny” clothes in my closet.<br /><br />My car has more than 100,000 miles on it, but I’m thankful I do not have a car payment. I’m thankful that gas prices have dropped, and I no longer feel like I need to take out a loan to fill my tank. Maybe I can actually go somewhere now.<br /><br />When every bone in my body aches, I’m thankful that I’m not a herring. (OK, that’s an old joke and I “borrowed” it.)<br /><br />I am most thankful that I have family and friends that I love. I’m thankful my sons married terrific women and my four grandchildren are healthy. I’m thankful my cat has to sleep from time to time and isn’t climbing the walls twenty-four/seven.<br /><br />Maybe we just need to slow down a bit. At least enough that we do not miss a holiday that only involves gathering family together and eating ourselves silly. It reminds me of home, pumpkin pie, dressing, cranberries, and turkey. How can people not love this holiday best of all?<br /><br />Thanksgiving does not have the pressure of Christmas. No one expects us to put on our happy face and know the ideal gift to buy. It is perfectly acceptable to be reflective and a bit pensive at Thanksgiving. No one is forced to be merry and ho-ho-ho at every opportunity. We can be ourselves at Thanksgiving without being called “Scrooge” or someone saying “Bah-Hum-Bug!”<br /><br />Have you ever noticed that people will ask you what you got for Christmas, but they won’t ask you what you are thankful for on Thanksgiving? We really aren’t pressured to be thankful.<br /><br />I’m thankful that I’ll be eating a turkey instead of being a turkey served as the main course on Thanksgiving Day. Yes, everyone except turkeys can surely find something to be thankful for. If nothing else, just be thankful that if you aren’t thankful no one else will take it personally. So have a happy turkey day if you want. Be thankful, if you so desire. But please, please don’t forget Thanksgiving in your rush toward Christmas.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-31244547008794812042008-11-16T09:26:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.640-08:00Life's Unsolved MysteriesA good mystery book ends with the mystery being solved, but we go through life with a series of unsolved mysteries. At any particular time in our lives, we puzzle over why things happen.<br /><br />Why did a relationship end? Why do nations fight wars? Why do people develop life-changing diseases like Alzheimer’s? The “whys” of real life mysteries can drive us berserk.<br /><br />Last night, I picked up the Sedalia Democrat and two front page headlines caught my immediate attention. “Fundraiser planned for Bruce reward coffers” was an update on Dana Bruce, a 23 year old mother of two, who went missing on October 5. Flyers with Dana’s picture are posted at most Sedalia businesses. Wooded areas have been searched and a person of interest interviewed, but Dana is still missing and nothing has been resolved.<br /><br />Another story on the front page “Missing wife’s husband arrested” is about Michael Yarnell’s arrest in connection with the disappearance of Michelle “Angie” Yarnell. Twenty-eight year old Angie disappeared October 23, 2003 from the Ivy Bend area of Morgan County. Angie’s husband claimed she ran away with another man. Michael Yarnell admits to sending a postcard to Angie’s mother indicating that Angie was alive and well and on her way to Texas. Where is Angie? That question still can’t be answered five years later.<br /><br />Hopefully, these mysteries will be solved eventually. If family members do not have a happy reunion with their loved ones, they will at least find closure. It seems that no matter how bad the news, we face the known with courage, but we fear the unknown.<br /><br />What were Dana’s goals before she went missing? What were Angie’s dreams? Whatever happened to these young women, their lives veered from the pathways they had traveled. Their fates are unsolved mysteries.<br /><br />Why did Jim develop dementia? What happened to our hopes and aspirations? This is my life’s greatest unsolved mystery.<br /><br />Life is not a book, and we are not the authors of our own pages. Too many times, our biographies are cut short, and our legacy is an unfinished manuscript with a lot of loose ends. Our pathways through life are mysterious, and we don’t know exactly where they lead or when they will end. We do our best to conquer our fear of the unknown and complete our journey with faith that in the end we learn the answers.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-65224816028217564512008-11-11T09:49:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.677-08:00As My World Turns!You know I have to get going early and do what chores I have, because about this time my world starts to slow down and crash. This won't be long, but I do apprecaite hereing from you folks, the good, the bad, the ugly, etc. It makes me feel like I am not preaching to the trees or the walls. Well my you all have a good one.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D8%252F8%255F14%255F11%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_14_11.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D8%252F8_14_11%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-157218210427999222008-11-08T14:08:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.725-08:00Taking InventoryAt work we are conducting our annual inventory. I’m no longer directly involved in the process, but I remember the headaches, frustration, and anxiety of trying to reach an acceptable discrepancy between what you have on hand and what you should have.<br /><br />This morning, I have been cleaning house, and I thought about all the stuff that I have crammed into this house after eighteen years of living here. I can’t imagine taking inventory of all the items I own. In the first place, I would have to find everything. I’m still looking for the computer connection for my MP3 player. If I ever find it, will it be in a logical place, or some place where I stuck it to get it out of the way? It wouldn’t get counted in the inventory if it’s still missing.<br /><br />Jim used to call me Imelda Marcos Junior because of all the shoes I have. The last time I counted (at his insistence!) I had fifty pair. As far as how many pair I have now—we won’t go there. I watch these people on TV help packrats like me clean their closets. “You have a hundred tee-shirts? Oh. My. God. Throw ninety-seven of them in this big trash can and we will buy you a new wardrobe.” Nope. Keep your new wardrobe. I like my memories. I just need a bigger closet!<br /><br />If my 401K completely disappears, I could live by selling my stuff on E-Bay. I wouldn’t even miss most of my “inventory” for a few years.<br /><br />I no longer count my collectibles. I display part of them and pack part of them away. Seasonal decorating gets to be such a pain, that I wonder why I do it. I need to take down Halloween and put up Thanksgiving. Fortunately, those two overlap some. I hate to take down my fiber-optic witch before anyone gets to see it. Last year I left my decorations up for a few extra days and my granddaughter said, “Halloween is OVER, Grandma Linda!”<br /><br />Sometimes when I have a moment of quiet time, I begin to think strange thoughts. Last night as I drove home, I began to think about things I’ve done in my life that I wish I hadn’t. Things that I knew were wrong, but plunged into them anyway. I began to take inventory of my dark side. When we ruminate, it’s our failings that bear heavy on the soul and seem to clog up the inventory. In fairness to myself, I should inventory my accomplishments and the good things too.<br /><br />I’ve always heard that we should count our blessings which sounds like another inventory. Thankfully, I couldn’t possibly inventory my blessings either. Not even an industrial strength calculator would be capable of that task.<br /><br />So, at work, inventory is bogged down and holding up my October month end closing, but in my personal life, I’m just plugging along. I’m the only one accountable for any discrepancies between what I have and what I should have, and more importantly, the person I am and the person I should be.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-13121438055954312442008-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:002013-02-18T16:56:35.762-08:00This Belongs On My Answering Machine!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZRman000%2526i%253D5%252F5%255F7%255F10%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/5/5_7_10.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D5%252F5_7_10%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a><br /><br />Thanks my friend Dick.<br /><br />Hello and thank you for calling The State Mental Hospital.<br />><br />> Please select from the following options menu:<br />><br />> If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.<br />><br />> If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for<br />> you.<br />><br />> If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.<br />><br />> If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want,<br />> stay on the line so we can trace your call.<br />><br />> If you are delusional, press 7 and<br />> your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.<br />><br />> If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully<br />> and a little voice will tell you which number to press.<br />><br />> If you are manic-depressive, hang up.<br />> It doesn't matter which number you press,<br />> nothing will make you happy anyway.<br />><br />> If you are dyslexic, press 9-6-9-6.<br />><br />> If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep<br />> or before the beep or after the beep.<br />> But Please wait for the beep.<br />><br />> If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.<br />> If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.<br />> If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.<br />><br />> If you have low self-esteem, please hang up.<br />> Our operators are too busy to talk with you.<br /><br />><br />> If you are menopausal, put the gun down,<br />> hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry.<br />> You won't be crazy forever.<br />><br />> If you are blonde, don't press any buttons.<br />> You'll just mess it up.<br />><br />> This coming week is<br />> National Mental Health Careweek.<br />> You can do your part by remembering<br />> to contact at least<br />> one unstable per son to show you care.<br />><br />> (Well, my job is done . Your turn!!)<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-10773009976292928042008-11-02T17:47:00.000-08:002013-02-18T17:02:23.812-08:00Remembering American Veterans: Some Gave AllBranson celebrates “Veterans Week” out of respect for those who served our country. For several years, Jim and I traveled to Branson for this annual event. Patriotic songs are performed by talented people dressed in glittering red, white, and blue costumes.<br /><br />Our first stop in Branson was always the 76 Music Hall where we registered Jim for his ARMY, 169th Engineers, Vietnam nametag. Until we began to celebrate Veterans Week in Branson, Jim had not experienced the pride associated with fighting for his country. Jim and I both had tears in our eyes when a man saw Jim’s nametag and shook his hand. “I just want to say thank you, and welcome home.” Vietnam veterans returned home one at a time on commercial airlines—no parades, no thank you, no appreciation.<br /><br />Vietnam irrevocably changed Jim. He felt more stigmatized than honored for most of the years following his tour of duty. Jim suffered from post traumatic syndrome before anyone knew what it was. He became withdrawn, suicidal, paranoid, and sank into a dark depression. Eventually, he received psychiatric treatment and with medication improved. Yet, throughout the remainder of his life, Vietnam was a burden on his soul.<br /><br />At a Country Tonite show, one of the performers sang, “All Gave Some, and Some Gave All.” Most people probably think of the soldiers who died on the battlefield as the ones who “gave all.” Jim stood beside me in the darkened theatre, his solemn face changing colors because of the flashing stage lights. As I held his hand, my arm brushing against the denim of his Levi jacket, I knew in my heart that Jim was one who gave all.<br /><br />Today, my sister-in-law and I visited the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville to place red, white, and blue flowers in front of Jim’s niche in the columbarium. The cemetery, peaceful and quiet, beneath a cloudless blue sky, is in stark contrast to sweaty soldiers carrying M-16s through a Southeast Asian jungle.<br /><br />How many will pause on November 11 to honor our veterans? Or has Veterans Day simply become another excuse for retail stores to have a sale? I know that in Branson, at least, veterans will be thanked, honored, and welcomed home with a parade that begins at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.<br /><br />As long as our country sends troops throughout the world to fight in wars, it is our obligation to provide support to veterans for as long as they need it. Outer wounds are visible, but scars on the heart may be the deepest. All gave some and some gave all to keep the stars and strips flying high and proud over this country.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-35841973381541436382008-08-06T12:26:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:36.768-08:00Howdy<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SJn8vQ3kjxI/AAAAAAAAACY/RQdxXGDR1qk/s1600-h/oldford.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SJn8vQ3kjxI/AAAAAAAAACY/RQdxXGDR1qk/s200/oldford.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231490331079642898" /></a><br />It has been awhile since I posted, I sit down in fromt of this thing to do it and that is wehere it ends.I have been in sort of a place that I am not famliar with, don't ask where because I do not know. Physically I am starting to suffer more of the progress of this wonderfulo disease. It is begning to scare me more now. I stand in the house, and wonder where the hell I am. After awhile I lie down on the couch or whatever and go to sleep and the hours go away. So does the confusion and mystery fo what things are. I feel more lonely in theis World of Mine now even when people are areound me. Sometimes waking up and seeing my wife next to me scares the living (&(&^^ out of me because I am not sure who she is. Then the brain kicks in a all is well. I tire quickly and fall alot now, I guess that old Ford has caught up to me and passed me by.<br /><br />I used to wonder what tomorrow would bring, now I am not sure about the rest of today. I do this for you who care for those like me so you know why we act the way we do and it has nothing to do with you, it is us.<br /><br />God Bless You and this Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-89429204054556987232008-08-02T10:06:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:24.924-08:00News from ICAD: Elderspeak Increases Resistance to CareResearchers are not only trying to find a cure for Alzheimer’s, they want to improve quality of life and improve the standard of care for people with dementia. The results of an ongoing study released at the 2008 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) involves communication. Researchers used “Elderspeak” to define a communication method similar to a parent using baby-talk phrases such as, “Sweetie pie, it’s time for us to get up now” or “That’s a no-no!” This study validates what we caregivers knew all along: Our loved ones with dementia are adults and need to be treated with respect.<br /><br />During the study, resistance to care was measured in relationship to dementia care unit staff’s communication with the residents. The communication styles were broken down into normal talk, elderspeak, and silence. The study shows that it is significantly more effective to talk to residents in normal conversation than elderspeak. Silence was neutral.<br /><br />Jim developed aphasia early in his disease and we learned to cope with his diminishing grasp of spoken and written communication. In effect, my unscientific study spanned ten years. I never used baby talk, but it was perfectly acceptable for me to call Jim by endearments because I always had. In fact, one time when I addressed him as “Jim” in front of our kids, they both giggled because they had NEVER heard either one of us call the other by name. Yet, I know that once Jim was in the nursing home, he had to cringe when staff called him by an intimate endearment reserved for use by people who loved him.<br /><br />When a person’s spoken language is limited, and they are ordered to do something in an unkind tone, or treated like a child, they will react in the only way they can—by resisting. This resistance is looked upon as “behavior” and reflects upon the resident rather than the staff.<br /><br />Some states require dementia specific training with communication as one of the elements. The results of this study should be reason enough for long term care facilities to go above and beyond any state laws in improving communication between staff and residents. When a resident resists care, it is stressful for staff and increases the time required to complete a task.<br /><br />Using respectful communication methods is a win-win situation whether your loved one is at home or in long term care. Proper training allows staff to perform at an efficient level, and residents will be more cooperative. Family caregivers can benefit from the knowledge that their communication style can greatly impact their caregiving success.<br /><br /><br />Source: Respectful Adult Communications Improves Quality of Care in Alzheimer’s at <a href="http://www.alz.org/">http://www.alz.org/</a>. The study conducted by Kristine N. Williams, RN, PhD, and the University of Kansas School of Nursing was funded by the National Institute of Health.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-38615772829957538832008-07-21T14:41:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:36.937-08:00GOD, WHY?<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SIUF96euzrI/AAAAAAAAABU/yzzTuB13MUE/s1600-h/thumbnail.aspx.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SIUF96euzrI/AAAAAAAAABU/yzzTuB13MUE/s320/thumbnail.aspx.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225589503861640882" /></a><br />You know I have asked the above question all of my life. Not just since I have gotten AD & FTD, to be sure they have not helped the situation. The question is not what you think, GOD WHY ME? No not at all. Most of my life has been screwed up, probably mostly my own fault, except my early childhood, did I have one, no I live in a house of hell part of Satans spawn. At least with the dementia some of it is leaving me now. You should see my wife as she tries to stop me from falling off the courch or the bed. It is hard to stop a rolling whale. I ask mostly, GOD WHY AM I ALIVE & WHY WAS I BORN? Looking over me and my life there is nothing special about me nor do I seem to have contributed much to this life, taken oh yes.Now my thoughts get mixed between yesterday, today and whatever comes into this brain of mush that I have. It is starting to get a bit touchier, I look at those I should know and wonder who the f&*^ is that, and it is my wife or one of the kids. I have moments that I feel perfectly "normal" (do not think I ever was that), and all of a sudden everything goes to helll in a hand basket and I have no idea what I am doing, why I am doing it or where. I spend little time doing things I used to. I start, forget and then wind up somewhere else doing something different or just sitting wondering WHY? Well enough out of me.<br /><br />God Bless You & This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-83712850660366228942008-07-20T12:07:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:25.096-08:00Out to LunchAlthough I’m a writer and speaker, I continue to work at my day job for those little necessities like food and health insurance. My job as an office manager is fulfilling and challenging enough to hold my interest. We work ten-hour days with an hour lunch break. Sometimes, it seems that my brain is “out to lunch” during that one hour of theoretical down time in the middle of the day.<br /><br />Friday, just as I was ending the work week, I decided to eat at the office and work on an article and story with looming deadlines. I walked back to the kitchen, removed my Schwan’s Broccoli-Chicken and Rice Bowl and popped it into the microwave. Rather than waste six minutes while I waited for it to cook, I grabbed a glass of ice water and returned to my desk, popped in my flash drive, and began to write.<br /><br />The problem with healthy food is sometimes it just doesn’t stick with you. At three o’clock I was famished, and just as I reached for my apple, I realized my lunch was still in the microwave. I never thought I would live long enough to forget to eat! HereI am, a master of multi-tasking, and forgot to eat lunch.<br /><br />Last week, I rushed from my hair appointment through a drive-thru window at Goody’s. I bypassed the “Order Here” menu and drove to the “Pick up Order” window. Just as I was contemplating backing up, the window opened and a grinning man said, “Could I have your order, please?”<br /><br />“I can’t believe I didn’t stop and place my order.”<br /><br />“It happens,” he said, “people just have their minds on something else.”<br /><br />I didn’t tell him this was an improvement over the fiasco at the same restaurant last year. That time, I ordered at the proper window, paid for my food, and drove off with only my drink. I’m sure I was thinking about more important things than lunch.<br /><br />My friend, Tracy Mobley, diagnosed at 38 with early-onset dementia, has something to say about people like me who have so much on their plates that their brains are out to lunch. She says, “They are quick to say, ‘Oh, I do those things.’ I truly wish this disease were as forgiving and forgetting as they make it seem.”<br /><br />Well said, Tracy! When Jim developed dementia, I realized how serious and life-changing Alzheimer’s really is. He began a process that could be described as unlearning.<br /><br />Our lives are so hectic today that we often find ourselves with our brain on one track, and our actions on auto pilot. This mental overload is not Alzheimer’s, but simply a brain trying to process too much information.<br /><br />The lesson for me is to hang a mental “Out to Lunch” sign during my lunch break and spend my time more wisely. I need to take a deep breath and slow down. If I meet friends for lunch or go to the park and relax for an hour, I bet I wouldn’t forget to eat.<br /><br />*****<br /><br /><br />For information on Memory Talk presentations, visit <a href="http://www.lsfisher.com/">http://www.lsfisher.com/</a>, and click on the Alzheimer's Speaker link. <em>Alzheimer's Anthology of Unconditional Love</em> available at Barnesandnoble.com, Amazon.com, and selected Missouri Barnes and Noble stores.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-85104505688084281582008-07-06T15:26:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:25.268-08:00Writing as Therapy: Rocks and PebblesStress is rampant in most of our lives today, and is a primary contributor to premature death. Even when we make an effort to be healthier, we create more stress! I experience health-related stress every time I try the latest count-every-calorie diet and go to bed with a growling stomach.<br /><br />We manage stress in individual and somewhat mystical ways. Whether you cope with stress though exercise, aromatherapy, meditation, medication, therapy, or a combination, you use a method that blends with your personality.<br /><br />I’ve always believed in gut feelings, and my gut tells me that writing is the technique that works for me. I will be the first to admit a bubble bath can brighten a bad day, but when I grapple with a dilemma, I need to write. The key word is “need.” It isn’t that I <em>want</em> to write, or writing through the problem <em>might</em> help; writing is necessary. Nothing else works as well as writing to relieve my stress, grief, disappointments, or the myriad of quandaries spawned by daily life.<br /><br />Through Jim’s downward spiral into the land of dementia, I survived by writing. From the first memory lapses through ten years of gradually losing my best friend and companion, I wrote. Pen and paper, or my laptop, took the brunt of my anger, disappointment, and despair. Had I unloaded all my problems onto other human being, I probably wouldn’t have any friends or relatives without unlisted phone numbers.<br /><br />I wrote “Writing as Therapy: Rocks and Pebbles” for <em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love</em>. One of the purposes of the book was to help others traveling the Alzheimer’s journey. I would have been remiss had I not shared the value of writing.<br /><br />Imagine my excitement to find research validates the therapeutic benefits of writing for both emotional well-being and physical problems. It is easier for me to understand the emotional benefits of writing than to comprehend that participants of therapeutic writing experiments showed decreased blood pressure, less pain from arthritis, and better breathing in asthmatics.<br /><br />In this age of self-help, writing is an inexpensive way to use the benefit of self-reflection to increase our joy in living. Researchers warn that writing is not a cure-all and may not work for everyone. But if you are one who believes in gut feelings, you might want to give it a try. Writing as therapy is not about being a “writer” or “published author;” it’s about expressing your emotions through writing.<br /><br />My current book project, <em>Writing as Therapy: Rocks and Pebbles</em>, explores how writing memories, or even fiction, can be cathartic. Writing allows me to reflect on life, examine my values, and validate my faith that my existence has meaning. Writing is a stress-free health choice that allows me to feast on spiritual food. No calorie counting required.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-23026142916724951832008-07-05T11:42:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:37.192-08:00Belated Freedom WishesTo all my friends, readers and distractors from whatever Country you live in, I send you belated greetings for the freedom that this Country has always fought for qne hope you enjoyed the day. To all of you that live in this foggy World of Mine, with AD, FTD, Picks, Lewy Bodies, Parkinsons and just plain old dementia (whatevwer that is) A special hello and thanks to you. I just was not able yesterday to put it together to write you all. As things grow tighter in my mind and ability to express them I get more and more frustrqted. But the good side is that in a short time I forget the frustration. I feel like I live in 3 Worlds, Yesterday, Something Called Today, and What is To Come (tomorrow).My temperment is slowly becoming unpleasant, I am even more straight forward then I ever was. I try to say thank you Lord for putting this asshole in my life, but I to offten find myself telling them to eat shit and bark at the moon. It is difficult to watach what I say around my grandkids, so I try to just sew my lips shut. Does it work? EEEEH It is getting harder each day to get my backside in gear to do something. The Warrior that once existed in me and fought every battle thattt came our way, has finally laid down his lance, his battle axe is rusting, but he is still moving, but I need jiff lube for the armor to stop its fricken squeaking. I do not want people to feel sorry for me because I don't, my life has been filled with battles and challenges and have risen to them all, I guess it is now my turn to rest and sort of pass the sword on to others. But I am a stuborn SOB. To all I say thank you for stopping by to visit with me. I hope your lives are filled with what the Lord wants for you.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-57129977424662125752008-06-02T12:42:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:37.702-08:00"I AM FREE NOW"<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SEROvP_hJ9I/AAAAAAAAAAk/-ew2mHHqz18/s1600-h/100_1369.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_71rXVIqs2DM/SEROvP_hJ9I/AAAAAAAAAAk/-ew2mHHqz18/s320/100_1369.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207373642800900050" /></a><br /><br />Those are my five pride and joys, my grandchildren. Number six is on the way. Wanted to share them with you. They are Lillian, Chase, Emma, Kobe and Malek.<br /><br />Ayou know from time to time I share comments and emails I get with you. That is part of what this blog is about. My telling of my World and your response from within it or the otherside. Such is the following comment I received:<br /><br />"You are very brave Joe. As a volunteer at the Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay day care center in Berkeley I have made many wonderful friends. I will always remember the lady of few words who, one day, as we were holding hands, said "I am free now"<br /><br />I wonder if, I think so, this caretaker realizes the blessing God bestowed that day on the two of them. First The lady realized that the journey into darkness, frustration, aggrevation, not knowing and the fog finally for her was over and a new lite was in her life. Second he got to be there for the granting of Gods' blessing to this lady. To say I am nott jealous of them would be an outright lie. MY wife has gotten to witness things since she was off work for six weeks, with me.I think she and others of you outhere can understand how this lady finally felt and the day I look forward to. Till theen I will stumble along talk to you and respond when I remember to. Brave my friend I do not think so, scared and bewilder yes. I just feel others need to here this side of the story direct. It is different for each of us that is why it is so difficult to pin point. Thier are some things I still can do and others that baffle the crap out of me. I do not walk well, I hear different words in conversations, I don't even know when I am being talked to at times. I built a small paver patio out front, of course my hands and fingers hurt because they were to stupid to get out of the way of the mallet I was using to tapp the brikcs down with into place. My darling wife has informed med that more and more of my comments in public are not in good taste and I do not use my quiet voice when saying them. Well that is just the way it is for now, exciting times to come.<br /><br /><strong></strong>God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<strong></strong><br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-39005301054143460552008-05-31T11:15:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:25.871-08:00Early Onset Project: Share Your Alzheimer's StoriesThe Early Onset Book Project seeks submissions for a book devoted to young onset dementia. Many books have been written about Alzheimer’s, but <strong><em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love: Early Onset Dementia</em></strong> will provide a rare opportunity to demonstrate how the disease affects families from different points of view. This book will bring to life the challenges of living with dementia and show the courage of persons with dementia and their families.<br /><br />Writers do not need to be professionals. Stories written by the primary caregiver or the person with dementia are often the most compelling. I will edit stories, if necessary, before submitting them to the judges who will select approximately thirty stories for the collection.<br /><br />The Early Onset Project is an exciting opportunity to educate our legislators that Alzheimer’s is a neurological brain disease and not a normal part of aging. The book will be formatted much like Alzheimer’s <strong><em>Anthology of Unconditional Love: The 110,000 Missourians</em></strong>, with slice-of-life stories, pictures of the person with dementia (if submitted), and informational articles. Missouri advocates distributed copies of <strong><em>Alzheimer’s Anthology of Unconditional Love: The 110,000 Missourians with Alzheimer’s</em></strong> to all Missouri legislators in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C.<br /><br />During our legislative visits at the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum, Sarah Wilson of the Mid-Missouri Chapter compared Alzheimer's to another disease that affects so many people. "When a family member has cancer, that person takes chemotherapy, and the rest of the family provides support for them. With Alzheimer's, it's like the whole family is taking chemotherapy."<br /><br />Those of us who have lived with dementia understand that analogy. When my husband developed dementia at age 49, advocacy and writing helped me cope. He had aphasia and could not express his feelings, so I became his voice.<br /><br />Writing our experiences has a cathartic effect and helps promote spiritual healing. Once we record the events and emotion, we realize we did our best and love makes us stronger than we ever thought we could be. I have a presentation on this subject and will publish a book, <strong>Writing as Therapy: Rocks and Pebbles,</strong> in 2008 or 2009.<br /><br />Your personal stories give a voice to the 500,000 people with early onset dementia and their loved ones. No one can tell your story but you. Please share a slice-of-life moment with <strong>The Early Onset Project</strong> and let your voice be heard.<br /><br />For more information about submissions for the Early Onset Project, visit <a href="http://www.lsfisher.com/">http://www.lsfisher.com/</a>, or <a href="http://www.alz.org/mid-missouri/">www.alz.org/mid-missouri/</a><br /><br /><br />To download complete submissions guidelines: <a href="http://www.lsfisher.com/projectearly.html">http://www.lsfisher.com/projectearly.html</a><br /><strong>The submissions deadline has been extended to October 31, 2008</strong>. If you have any questions, please email me at <a href="mailto:earlyonset@hotmail.com">earlyonset@hotmail.com</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
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<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-68524191499185189402008-05-24T14:20:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:25.960-08:00Memorial Day: Honoring America’s HeroesWhile in Washington, DC, for the Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum, my grandson and I visited Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. The only other time I was there was with Jim more than twenty years ago. My recent visit brought back memories of the prior visit with my husband long before we knew anything about Alzheimer’s.<br /><br />With more than 250,000 gravesites on 657 acres, Jim and I did what most reasonable people would do—took the bus tour so we wouldn’t miss the highlights. As it turned out, the highlight for Jim was Audie Murphy’s grave.<br /><br />We were on the last bus tour of the day so we had to quickly visit each site and board the same bus. The bus stopped for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Everyone hustled past the Memorial Amphitheatre, except Jim. I hung back to see where he was headed.<br /><br />“We’re going to miss the changing of the guard,” I said.<br /><br />Jim stood in front of Audie Murphy’s plain grave marker videotaping. “This is what I wanted to see more than anything,” he said.<br /><br />After several minutes, we walked toward the crowd and saw part of the ceremony. This incident stands out in my memory as an example of Jim’s unique view of life. He was a person more intrigued by a simple grave marker than by a ceremony. He appreciated the grace and beauty of endless rows of marble stones<br /><br />“I would like to be buried here,” he said.<br /><br />“That’s not a good idea,” I argued, “because I wouldn’t be able to visit your grave.”<br /><br />He smiled and put his arm around me. It was just a passing thought and not something he dwelled on.<br /><br />On Memorial Day, I will travel to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery which has the grace and beauty of Arlington on a much smaller scale. At 1:00 p.m., they will have a ceremony to honor our heroes buried there.<br /><br />I knew Jim well enough to know that had he seen the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, he would have preferred it to Arlington. Jim’s ashes are in a niche in a columbarium which overlooks a small lake. While the ceremony goes on, I imagine that, in spirit, Jim will be fishing in the lake and pretty much ignoring the crowd, being his own person, doing his own thing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-89970556909307394662008-05-22T09:44:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:37.872-08:00A Sad MorningThis morning has beeeen one of those moments as I call them when old things pop up that create heart ache. I was recalling when my frien Jimmie, friends since we wer 5 and lived accross the street from each other, at the age of 16 was found hung one afternoon, the loss is still with me and I cry for him and cannot wait until this fricken disease erases that memory, for he was one of two of my close friends that died that way at the same age. I talked to an old school mate this morning informing him I would not be at our class reunion from Austin High in Chicago from 1962, good thing the invitation is in front of me. We spoke briefly and asked him to say high and wish them all Gods' blessings for me. My social graces then were not very good and now I go off in a momemnt and and would be3 more of a disruption then a pleasantness to the festivities. This is my link to all of you that visit me, in My World that is occupied with outhers in the same sinking ship. I do my best to enjoy what I have, but I am noticing that I am increasingly forgetting yesterday and last year and some years before more often. I get lost in conversations, God only knows where I go because I sure the f&*k don't. Enough of the pitty potty, I am still here and able to speak to you. I truly enjoy hearing from YOU out there, so for now take care of yourselves.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-74061793424771096582008-05-18T12:23:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:26.046-08:00Alzheimer’s Association 20th Annual Public Policy ForumThis was my eighth trip to Washington, DC, to ask for increased research funds for Alzheimer’s. It becomes frustrating when nothing seems to happen. NIH funding for Alzheimer’s research has remained flat for the past five years, and Maureen Reagan’s $1 billion goal appears to be unattainable.<br /><br />It is our job as advocates to educate our legislators and remain visible. We wore our purple “beauty queen” banners which made us hard to forget. Sandra Day O’Connor and Newt Gingrich both testified at the Congressional Hearing on Alzheimer’s. One of the senators said, “This is the biggest group I have ever seen at a hearing.” The room was crowded and people stood along both walls and in the back. Mrs. O’Connor said, “This is a problem that cries out for help.” She said research was closer than ever to finding a way to dissolve the plaques which are the hallmark of Alzheimer's.<br /><br />My grandson, Colby, traveled to Washington, DC, with me for his second Public Policy Forum. The Alzheimer’s Association asked us to focus on two main issues this year. We asked for $125 million increase to the $644 million spent on Alzheimer’s research, and to phase out the Social Security disability two-year wait for Medicare benefits. The two-year wait places a hardship on people with early onset dementia during the time when medical treatment is most helpful.<br /><br />It is more urgent than ever to find a cure for Alzheimer’s as the baby boomers age. “A cure can save Medicare and Medicaid $60 billion a year,” Colby told his parents on the ride home from the airport. “I learned a lot,” he said. And he did. He learned that 500,000 Americans have developed Alzheimer’s before age 65 and more than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s.<br /><br />“Why do you stay involved?” is a question I hear frequently. Alicia, who has early onset Alzheimer’s told our representative's legislative aide, “Linda doesn’t have to do what she does since her husband passed away.”<br /><br />I don’t have any choice but to remain involved. Advocacy didn’t end when Jim died! Through my involvement with advocacy, I’ve become friends with many people who have early onset dementia, and I care about them and their health. I worry about what the future holds for Alicia, Charley, Tracy, Karen, Bill, David, Lynne and many others. I ache for the caregivers because I know how emotionally and physically challenging their journey will be. I grieve for the man whose wife held his hand and led him from session to session at the Public Policy Forum; the lost look in his eyes haunts me and revives memories of Jim.<br /><br />Alzheimer’s is a disease, not a normal part of aging. We need to advocate for a cure and for programs to help those living with dementia. It is time we have Alzheimer’s survivors to honor at our Memory Walks!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-61438849833704244672008-05-15T21:53:00.000-07:002013-02-18T17:02:26.133-08:00Sedalia Democrat Article: Alzheimer's Advocate Receives Award for Work Against DiseaseThis is a link for an article in The Sedalia Democrat about the Alzheimer's Association Missouri Coalition first annual Advocate of the Year Award:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/news/advocate_7818___article.html/forum_walk.html">http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/news/advocate_7818___article.html/forum_walk.html</a><br /><br />Thank you for this honor! Linda Fisher<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-78906495558012406072008-05-15T19:12:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:37.956-08:00Denial, Regret, Sorrow, Shame or just Pissed OffSome of you are aware that I am forard about my dealing with dementia. But many I hear from, caregivers, talk about the charges are in denial and non acceptance of what is. To this I say BS, I know you are true and giving people and really feal that way. But I have talked with over 1500 people that live in this World of MIne and they all knew from the start and still do. What follows is a typical e-mail I receive, filled with love, compassion and not knowing how to really help. I have left off the peoples names for their own privacy. After you read the email I hop to explain why i feel that DENIAL is not a real part of dementia.<br /><br />"Hi Joe and Lynn. <br /><br />Unfortunately I don't think that Mom is ready to BELEIVE that she has Alzheimer's. She is the daughter of a German farming family and is very stoic. She has never been known to share her emotions openly, and now the disease has exaberated the issue. Don't get me wrong, she is very sweet, we are so lucky that way. My sister and I both beleive that she sees herself quite differently than we do. She is 84 and was one of the "June Cleaver" type wives. We remember the frequency of the phrase "what will the neighbors think?" She retreats to what we call "the bubble" on a daily basis. The length of these visits to the unknown vary day depending on the good days/bad day thing. It is on these bad days that Mom will hardly speak at all. She goes far away and has a distant look in her eye. We occasionally have opportunity to gently remind Mom that she has "Alzheimer's". She says she knows. She has a very poor short term memory, and we see shades of the future now because there are times when my sister and I feel that Mom does not know who we are. We have a loose diagnosis of AD, but Mom has other stuff going on too. But, dementia is dementia. She has big-time vascular issues, and an aortic aneurysm growing in a spot that is inoperable due to its proximity to a previous stent. She has trouble breathing after just a short walk, and some vertebral fracturing too. The diagnosis of AD helps us clarify to agencies the urgency for financial aide and assistance. We just now after nearly a year have received the "Aid and Attendance" benefit from the Veteran's Administration. The money will help us to pay our hired caregivers and not have to worry as much about spending money that we don't have. We have been spending some money taken from a reverse mortgage and we're almost out after property taxes and a few other medical things, a tooth extraction, and a rebuilt crown, and then new eye glasses. She had macular degeneration and cataracts too. Mom will still do embroidery work, and she loves looking outside from her lift chair at her garden...and the bird feeders and bird bath...going full swing now.<br /><br />She really enjoys going outside on the sneak, if you will to water the yard. I don't know why but it seems as soon as we leave for an errand or whatnot, Mom will have been outside watering. Bully for her I say.<br /><br />Still has some spunk when it comes to her flowers...!<br /><br /> <br /><br />Well Joe, I think thats enough for now...gotta go and take core of some stuff...<br /><br /> <br /><br />Thank you again,"<br /><br />First I say encourage here flower watering and watching. She is still in there and finds this is what she can do. Try to imagine if you can knowing that each day a little more of YOU slips away, a tiny amount of what you could due goes away. Then the process speeds up. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? I think pretty damned pissed off and would try to hide things, not because of denial, but your own sorrow at the lost, regretting what you did to cause this (which is most likely nothing) and there is some shame with it. You are no longer the person you were, but try to be, I see that in many I talk with. I am mentally and cognitively less then I was a year aga, I even here different words in the conversations I have. I even lose who I am talking to and come back later in the conversation. I have maybe 7 years left, believe me like those that walk with me, I plan on fighting toooth and nail till it comes time to leave. Many mistake the sense of loss that we have for Denial, it isn't we weep for ourselves, because we know better than you what is happening, I may sound quite with it, trust me it is difficult to write this without crying and focusing on what I say. The email above fills my heart with gratitude that these folks are keeping the family together and working through it, They are Heros to me, because we are a handfull. Sixtuplets don't compare to us as time goes on. We will wear you down, but we still love in our hearts and souls. Remember we still have our own brand of pride in ourselves. When I started this blog I made a promise to me to tell it as it is in me and as I see it, no matter the pain caussed me or the people I piss off.If you see our side and there are others like myself who have websites and journals maybe not as cantancerus as me and myore polite and gentle, but I find not a fricken thing gentle, fun, loving, polite in this disease at all.<br /><br />Thanks for your ear and being out their for me.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country of Ours!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
<a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1&max-results=9999">1</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1001&max-results=1500">2</a><a href="/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=501&max-results=1000">3</a><a href="
/atom.xml?redirect=false&start-index=1501&max-results=2000">4</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12563655200790503167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8935727122248373781.post-44167739754711338032008-05-09T10:27:00.000-07:002013-02-18T16:56:38.042-08:00Crossing The LineSome of you may have read in other entries of mine of that line that those thaat live is this World of Mine cross. Itt is that point where you cease to be who and what you are and become another entity, if you do not physicallly pass on. Yes they say this is gradual and can take many years, true but sure, it can happen in a day. Here today gone tomorrow. I have over the years since joining this ever growing community of those with dementia have seen it take place just that way. One instance my wife told me of a fellow at one of the sites she works at who has been reading my blog and hopefully gainnned some insight and comfort that he was faultless. HIs mother was fine the one day and the very next (24 hours later), knew crap, nota and required suddenly 24 hour care. So many I have communicated with that suffer have had this take place with them, because I speak (this form) with their loved ones and caregiverss and they tell me of this suddeness. What say you perverers of great wisdom and knowledge, what is that "Duh". MY own life is growing shadowier, forgetting we said grace at dinner, turning on this beast, conversations in the middle of them, physically becoming a poster child for damage of the year or how to screw up your body in one simple lesson. My time is coming when ?????? but it is on its' way. I have told my family the day will come as long as I have any ability to think as who I am, that I will kiss them all and say goodbye and be gone. I believe I have the right to passon with some of me in tact and with some dignity. I refuse to have my family see me lying with my face in my food, as I have seen from working in Assisted living homes when doing computers. Looking into the trap souls of those folks through their eyes made my decision along time ago shoulod I ever be blessed with this disease. There is no cure and most likely will not be one, until they whoever they are talk to US and really learn. For their knowledge of the brain fits in the head of a pin. Bye for now until next time be good to yourselves.<br /><br />God Bless You and This Country!<br />Joe<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://healthy-life-in.blogspot.com">Healthy Life</a>
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