Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John with Your Song

Wow, Lady Gaga just keeps getting better. Elton John said he wanted to sing with her at the Grammys because she is the best. Pink! Wowee, again she thrilled with acrobatics, all the while singing. And Michael Jackson's song about how we do not appreciate our planet---amazing. (I needed 3-D glasses)

Jesus by His Side, Wendell Smith and the Story of Bob Houbregs Inventor of Soft Hook Shot and Fort Wayne Connection

Wendell Smith is one of my neighbors at my new home. People often say it is a small world, I say in life when we met someone there is a previous connection in some way. I believe this because it has been proven to me time and again. When I first met Wendell, I was sitting with my friend, Angie in the lobby of the Viewpointe on Queen Anne in Seattle. Wendell greeted us with a comment he would greet me (and many others) with time and time again: "Hi. You are 16. Sweet 16," followed by his loud laughter. That joke never grows old to him.



Why was I always so fascinated with Wendell? Well, two reasons, after that first meeting almost one year ago, he joked with us and proceeded out the front doors to no waiting car or van. He seemed to struggle with each step, so much so that Angie and I were truly concerned for his well-being. It was around 30' with snow and ice covering the area. Didn't stop him a bit. Was he even a resident here? Inspiration smacks you like that sometimes, if he could walk out, so certain of his safe return, surely I could in a power chair!



Later I would pass him in the dining room and he remembered my name! How? I don't think I could remember my own name back then, let alone the many new faces I had met in my new home. And again with the jokes, the big grin, larger than life laughs---his physical struggles were written on his crooked legs and off-set eyes; who WAS this jovial, 6'5" giant of a gent? And why did so many other residents dismiss his friendly overtures so swiftly, almost patronisingly?



My continuing battle to bear my weight, strengthen my back so that I can sit long enough to enjoy dining in the dining room, has kept me away many days. Last week, I went early to take time to actually converse with Wendell. His life story was incredible, his passion for life extraordinary. He agreed to allow me to interview him for my blog. We met in the bistro the next week.

During Wendell's younger years, life was sailing along, he was tall and learned the hook shot from arguably the inventor of the hook shot, Bob Houbregs, a stand-out player from Queen Anne high school, at 71 Bob remained the University of Washington's Huskies most decorated player, their only consensus All-American selection and NCAA player of the year. The first U of W player jersey retired: No. 25; he was called "Hook" by all that watched his winning shot.

Wendell was also a smart guy, one of the top percentile of IQs in the U.S., he had a job at Cedar Mills in Ballard, a co-worker threatened to kill him, Wendell knocked him down and was fired. As young men were encouraged to do after such an episode, Wendell joined the Navy in 1957
and quickly rose in the ranks, winning honors as a player on the Navy basketball team---he never hit his head on the low ship ceilings, but came close! Life was good and after his Navy stint was over, he planned to attend the University of Washington and get a degree in engineering or electronics (his field on ship), even though he did have to weigh offers from the Lakers and Warriors pro basketball teams. "I wouldn't have joined them. I wanted to go back to school," he says.

A drunk driver ended those dreams forever. On leave to be with his girl, Wendell was barely alive, all but dead, said the doctors---his brain was half gone and a tracheotomy had to be done (he still has the scar), his IQ dropped to 60 as he lost brain function, much of his central nervous system from the neck up and doctors told him he would never walk again. It was 1960 (Sept. 30th he will add, obviously his memory is fully intact. During the interview he also impresses us with his spelling ability, a master speller in his day and on this day!) and he lay unconscious at Harborview hospital for 3 months. He wouldn't be released from the hospital for over 36 months. His girl left. But Wendell didn't leave, he woke up and began rehab, using a pool daily, time passed, his IQ began to rise. 93, 97, 103...with no brain rehab, no modern surgery.

The doctors called it a miracle and Wendell agrees. I asked him if he ever worried about his future? How does he keep such an upbeat outlook?

"I couldn't do anything about it. I knew I would be disabled. There was nothing I could do."
"But what kept you going?"
" My IQ kept going up, 20 years after the crash I was up to 103. I've always been a thinker. But, let me tell you, Jesus Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit, all three were with me. They were with me. They gave, give, me everything. Jesus was with me the whole time."

I thank him and he tips his hat, which he says is 15 years old, but it is silk inside and shows the class in the man. He uses a walker now, but it hasn't slowed him down. He starts to put the bistro chairs back as Angie and I gather our papers. I tell him we will take care of the chairs, but he is a gentleman and pushes them in place before he heads out. "You sure you aren't 16?" he exits as he laughs the laugh of a man who is full of faith, and joy to be alive---a thinker.

Oh, and that small world? Bob Houbregs went on to play professional basketball in Fort Wayne, Indiana---my home town.

Blogs You Can't Forget

Blogs will come and go. We will forget them. In ten years "blog" may be the answer to a Trivial Pursuit question. (yes, board games will live on, as will card games)

Some Bloggers will remain with me forever, and if you follow my blog then you know I mean it. Some Bloggers for their "name," some for their personality, some for the things they wrote.

Here are a few that I know will stick with me:

Zoomdoggies, now that is a name---I LOVE it. Then I find out she has MS, is from Seattle, moved here from Michigan...small world! But zoomdoggies, I just love saying it and it always makes me smile. Here is where you can find zoomdoggies (can you guess where the name came from?) Howling at the Moon http://zoomdoggies.blogspot.com/

OldOldLady of the Hills, yes, I saw that and thought, this should be an interesting blog, written by an Appalachian mountain woman! Well, as the old Beverly Hillbilly song goes, "...hills, Beverly Hills" LOL, Here in th Hills http://sitteninthehills64.blogspot.com/ is her blog and it is a wonderful journey for me. It is filled with Hollywood photos, beautiful flower photos, photos of her often famous friends and her many stories about life as an artist and actor during her 70+ years. I read, look at the pictures and say, "That might have been me..." LOL Plus, she occasionally has contests, and I WON a "caption this photo" contest. (Though I wrote a tiny story, never been good at captions)---and TODAY in my mail was my PRIZE! A BEAUTIFUL calendar with one of her luscious flower photos on each month. Long after 2010 is gone, the calendar will remain with me. Thank you so much! (I especially like the caption for June---good idea!LOL)

And of course I must mention Doug at Grouping the Elephant, fun to tell people that I start my day with Doug, Groping the Elephant. http://gropingtheelephant.blogspot.com/ He is so thoughtful and free thinkers are a rare breed.

Screw Bronze! Now how can you ignore that? This person tells it like it is, her life, raw and harsh, yet somehow she carries on. She has a postcard project that has touched people around the world. I have several on my 'frige, and plan to frame them. When you read her blog you will find it hard to forget. http://elizabethmcclung.blogspot.com/

Wheelchair Dancer is such a beautiful name, it rolls off your tongue and just the idea inspires me. http://cripwheels.blogspot.com/

harkoo This person has no blog, but I love her name harkoo...sounds so special.

Last but not least is jamie AKA Afro http://noticias-chismes.blogspot.com/ a college student who I believe will leave a strong mark on the world. He is bright, witty, and has more emotional intelligence and empathy than most adults twice his age. Noticias-Chismes

Well, probably more, but these come to mind. Thank you all for making me laugh, ponder, and for enriching my life.

The Hawk, The Crow, and The Meaning of Life

The hawk is back on the top branch of the large evergreen tree that is outside my window. I have been watching him (could be a her, don't know) for 30 minutes now. It is 10am.

At 9:35 a crow starting flying around that tree. The crows have, since we moved into this building a year ago, spent many hours gathering in that tree. Hundreds would gather, fly away, then another group again, over and over throughout the day. Since Jan. the hawk has taken to sitting on the top branch and no other birds go near him. Today a single crow is dive-bombing him.

I used to watch this crow activity outside our window at my previous apt., where we lived on a tree-lined street. We called it our "tree house." They send a scout to check things out, then send word back to the murder. (Wow, that is what a group of crows is called---murder.)

In earlier posts I have mentioned that once hundreds of crows flew by at a high rate of speed, quite scary, so fast and big. Today, a single crow is checking out the hawk. Here he comes again, flapping close, diving straight at the hawk, then pulling up and leaving. In the distance I hear crows talking. The hawk, during all this, remains still, turning his head ever so slightly, but not budging an inch. He is not cleaning himself, scratching an itch, nothing; yet, he commands the tree.

It has been 35 minutes and while smaller birds fly by quickly in the distance, the crow may have given up. I wonder what the hawk would do if a murder of 100 crows came towards the tree...I will watch as long as I can.

These moments, the crows, the hawk and crow today, right now, it is my philosophy that this is all about me. This is my life and my experience and it is up to me to give it meaning, search for meaning, or look away and forget about it. My choice. My choice is to find the meaning and I need more data to find that.

I'll let you know what I discover. Isn't life exciting?

Valium and Grapefruit for MS

Suddenly, and inexplicably, the one drug (Valium) I take for my multiple sclerosis (spasticity) was given to me (by mail) with a warning label slapped on it: DO NOT TAKE WITH GRAPEFRUIT

Fine, but I have been taking this for FIVE years and occasionally have eaten grapefruit. Good grief and how ridiculous. I thought maybe just a mistake, since searching on line I find no reason not to mix the two (suddenly, and inexplicably, I now crave grapefruit); but the next deliver had same sticker, big, yellow, bold letters. (Much more important it seems than THIS DRUG CAN BECOME ADDICTIVE, though as the neuro who got me on Valium said, when I discussed my concerns about this Valley of the Dolls pill, "Addiction is just a behaviour." Oh? Really? Read any medical journals lately? Like in the last THIRTY YEARS???)

So, what does this MEAN for all the people who ate grapefruit with Valium all these years? Ridiculous. And pharmacists/doctors wonder why we don't respect them like we used to.

Menopause, What to Expect (Men YOU Need to Know Too)

Menopause, means just what it says, Men, Oh, pause, because you are entering a Hell with your wife. Jokes aside, menopause is no joke and it effects every woman differently. Be prepared for anything. Some of the common symptoms may start before actual menopause, and continue for years.


I think it was on The Phil Donahue Show that I first heard about estrogen replacement therapy. They said it was "a miracle drug" and would extend life, keep a woman from "getting old." Well, I was no where near menopause age, but (wait for it) I thought, Oh, hell no. Uh-uh, nope, nada.
Why did I doubt all the claims that women were so excited about? I just looked at my aunt's beautiful skin, her youthfulness, and I asked her about how menopause affected her. "It was nothing. You stop having your period."

Then, I asked my mom, she hated it, bled so much that she thought she was dying, her own mother died when Mom was just 15, and I guess Mom never asked about the "pause." OR, Aunt Vi said, "It's no big deal." But, after it was done, Mom also said---no big deal.

In 1995, I had ovaries making estrogen one day and the next day they were gone. My Dr. told me I would need to go on estrogen right away. "I'll think about it," I replied. (Again, I meant to say, No, hell, no.) I had no night sweats or day sweats, no mood swings, no dryness of anything, it was a big nothing, (My periods had ready stopped in 1990 when I had a hysterectomy because of a large tumor; that is the biggest perk, as I see it. ) I have never taken any ERT. (estrogen replacement therapy) I have always felt great. When I mentioned this to my Dr., he said, "Not everybody has any symptoms."

That was me and Aunt Vi. Mom had a bit of an issue. My partner, who also had estrogen producing ovaries one day and gone the next, had every symptom in the book and they were all Hell. I suffered by way of proximity. Moods, sweats, insomnia, and listening to women talk---this seems to be more the norm. Windows thrown wide open in middle of night during winter, crying over what no one knew, IT WAS HELL. And this lasted for years, even after she went on estrogen, getting the dose just right was HELL.

Now that the downside:
Increased risk for endometrial cancer when not combined with progestin
Increased risk for thromboembolic events
Increased risk for gallbladder disease
Increased risk for breast cancer and endometrial cancer when used for more than 5 years
Breast tenderness and weight gain

Most of the suggested wonders of ERT like prevention of dementia and protection from osteoporosis (neither my aunt or mom or any woman in our tree that I know of had osteoporosis) still affected my partner's mother and she was on ERT from the start, strong believer in all the hype. (If you want fresh, moist, youthful skin, stay out of the sun or hours and slab on sun protection lotion if you must worship the sun.)

The best way to know what to expect is to ask the women in your family what THEY experienced, and ask other women too. (Of course now you can just go on line.)

Every body is different. And just like with MS, you must weigh the pros and cons, then choose whether or not to go on ERT, and for how long. Many natural remedies are also found on line for symptoms.

Actor Travolta Flying Supplies to Haiti-What a Guy!

John Travolta is flying medical supplies to Haiti, now that's my kind of man!

Rosie on Oprah--Stop the Excuses. Now Menopause.

Rosie O'Donnell was on the Oprah Winfrey TV show yesterday. Ro and O are both on Sirius Radio with shows. I have always admire Rosie's acting ability. She is so raw and has great depth of emotion; she can emphasize with her characters. How I feel about her as a person is different.

Now, really, I don't know Rosie personally. I can only make my determinations about based on what I have seen and heard her say. (And with her stint on The View and her inability to know when to shut up (her words), added to interviews like yesterday's---I get a fair picture of the person.

My first problem with Rosie was when she wouldn't come out of the closet. Coward. She had a big money talk show and didn't want to lose viewers---that simple. She can spin however she likes "everyone knew" (not your viewers), "I wasn't sure," you have stated many times you dated women before Kelli---come on. When Ellen alluded jokingly that you, like her, were Lebanese, you hit the roof and have refused to appear near Ellen again. You never even speak Ellen's name---the first gay woman celebrity to come out BIG TIME. And her talk show audience loves her anyway. That must eat you up. It could have SHOULD have been you, but IT WASN'T, no spin can deny Ellen her role in HISTORY. It took courage and you have yet to acknowledge that about Ellen.

Unfortunately, I have known too many big, loud, shouting, anger-filled lesbians just like you. Big chip on their shoulder, brick wall around them to protect feeling hurt, and should they hurt someone else---they don't care. They don't want to hear other views that differ from theirs. They shout so loud that their message is drowned out by their actions. (And this is not just a problem that certain lesbians have.)

Rosie makes too many excuses for her bad behaviour. My mother died, my father drank, my childhood was awful, I suffer from traumatic stress, Columbine, I suffer from depression, and the latest? I am going through (or went through) menopause. ENOUGH WITH THE EXCUSES. We all could find excuses equal or greater than yours, and we let life rule us or we learn to rule our own lives.

NO MORE EXCUSES. It is like saying, "I'm sorry," over and over again---I tell those broken records, "Don't say you're sorry. Show it. Don't do it again and fix anything you've broken."
Very simple...of you just accept that all you are doing is making excuses, instead of addressing the problem.

Like many actors, we want the applause, we want the love. We feel misunderstood off stage. Our every day selves seem too ordinary and dull. We bore ourselves. But, this is true of many people. It is a fact of life. We all want to be loved for who we are. Rosie, you are a good actor, comedian, mother, friend, but NO MORE EXCUSES.

(PS--you say no one ever told you about menopause, SERIOUSLY? Oprah, you too? Don't either of you read much? No friends who went through it? You MUST mean that neither of you expected it to be as bad as it was. Is this an issue with any of my readers? I will be glad to tell you the menopause experiences of many different women.)

Seriously, I have little sympathy for multi-millionaire celebrities who can afford all the therapy they need, all the friends they want, vacations galore, can call Oprah in the middle of the night to vent, and STILL explain away their bad behaviour on life. GIMME A BREAK

Eat These Foods to Lose Weight and Live Longer

Some healthy foods you may be ignoring:

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach. Popeye had beets for snacks. Try not to but them canned though.
Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.
Cinnamon: May to control blood sugar and cholesterol.
Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and packed with antioxidants.
Dried plums: AKA Prunes
Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.
Sardines: High in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins. My friend eats them straight out of can.
Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory.
Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie, high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories. Good for constipation. Good for dieters.

MS Service Dog Embarrasses Daughter

From a MSNBC stock commentator: I know a woman 50 years old, just diagnosed with MS and she already needs a service dog to walk. This embarrasses her daughter. (He was excited about Ampriva the new MS drug.) "...this embarrassed her daughter." GIMME A BREAK

Truth About New MS Drug Ampriva, OR Ampyra FDA Doesn't Want You to Know

First: Dear friends and family, DO NOT bother calling me about the "NEW MS DRUG HELPS PEOPLE WITH MS WALK" and I will tell you why.

#1 I can't walk.
#2 If I COULD walk, I would not take it because I can do without a few seconds faster.( That is ALL it gives a person.)
#3 The FDA gave it a pass and will allow the drug co. that makes it to waive having to add, "May cause seizures." That smells like rotten eggs to me.

"Ampriva is not a miracle cure. While it can help even patients with relentlessly progressive MS, patients do continue to get worse over time. And the improvements seen with the drug are rather modest. In fact, the central question the advisory panel was asked to decide was whether the improvements were truly significant to patients. The drug is by no means risk-free. Ampriva is a new formulation of a drug called fampridine, which was originally used as a bird poison." Web MD Health News

The first ten hits on Google say NOTHING about these facts. Also, 65% in the trial had no positive results whatsoever. Even placebos give us a 50% jolt! So...I guess the question is--do you feel lucky? Well, do ya? (Notice comment under next post---name change to Ampyra)

Going it Alone with my Multiple Sclerosis

A new year has begun. I came to this new home in a state of Messisippi. Unable to stand, walk, lift a book, eat a full meal, make a transfer; I could barely sit up for more than a few minutes.

Now, we all know I have multiple sclerosis, but no doctor, no neurologist, nobody seemed to even bring up the idea that somehow I needed some IV steroids or some PT, or, well, anything. The world had written me off. Amazing, isn't it? I spent FIVE days in a well-respected hospital's ICU, and not one person uttered the words: multiple sclerosis.

OK, so if I had just a nasty virus that put me in the ICU, wouldn't SOMEBODY be concerned that it might affect my MS? I left messages for my neurologist--no response; I sent her an email--nothing. So, if I ever sound cynical or pissed off about our medical community caring about people with MS, cut me some slack. My local MS Chapter STILL has not returned my messages about that Voices of MS book, come to think of it, they didn't return a call I made two years ago either. Oh, I take flack for criticising the MS Societies that are treating me like a mole on their nose, I am "negative" they are "only volunteers" it must be MY fault somehow. And I love this excuse, "At least they are doing SOMETHING!"

How pathetic are we, when we are perfectly okay with people doing just something, instead of doing something right? I've heard it said that showing up is the most important thing. Really? Forgive me for setting the bar higher. These are not homeless people or the elderly, they are a group backed by hundreds and they get our money yearly. They get money from rich people. Am I wrong to believe I should benefit from all that money? What is the cost of returning a phone call. At least the national MS group returned my message with an email that told me to tell my problem to my local chapter. My PROBLEM?

What kind of life would I live with MS and no blogs? MS bloggers know where I'm coming from. Some tell me their chapter is fabulous, that's super, mine isn't, ok? Am I supposed to move to your state? I have been a volunteer. I have done the MS Walk. I have done the MS bowl-a-thon. I have donated money and solicited money. I have referred MSers to my chapter. I have offered my services for free to the Seattle MS Hub. I have written about MS, inspiring and humorous stories of hope, I hope. And what do I get? This.

My MS Walking Alone Project is going well. I am not walking yet and some days I think I am crazy to think I ever will. But, I have improved my body remarkably. My dead leg shows signs of lift, it jerks up and responds to my direction to flex---all GOOD SIGNS. For the last three weeks I moved up to a ten pound weight for my right bicep, curls and rows. Moved up to a five pound for my left curls and right presses and triceps. My right wrist is at five and left at two.

I found I can use the bathroom grab bar to stand and shift my body weight. And I discovered tightness in my left arm has been a problem. That arm is now my focus and the results after two months have been life-changing. Working my core has allowed me to sit up much longer. My new leg lifter is doing ROMs (range of motion) exercises for my dead left leg/hip. (I got it for Christmas.)

My new lift chair has more stretching positions which has helped my back greatly. My diet has improve as I move toward being a vegan and finally was able to peel an orange! (Something I haven't been able to do in years, many years, almost a decade.)

My diet is better than ever, once I stopped eating all the yummy desserts the chef makes here. I will become a close friend of the salad bar.

One year gone, still much work to do on me!

New Vice President of Retirement Home

Yes, I have too much time on my hands. It went like this at my home's resident council meeting: Everyone stepped back and there I was. Finally found my Robert's Rules of Order from my City of Seattle Employees with Disabilities Association stint as president. (One must keep such a rowdy group of seniors in order. Uh-hem)

Kidding aside, I am happy to do this and love the other members of the board. My goal is to improve communication and of course, make everyone happy. Uh-hem.

Meeting adjourned!

Jean Simmons from The Thorn Birds, Dead at 80

Jean Simmons is dead at 80 of lung cancer, an award winning actress of film and TV, her starring role in The Thorn Birds left me shivering. She starred with Brando, Olivier, Peck, Douglas , and Newman to name a few. Another irreplaceable actress has left us.

Meeting a Blogger Face to Face

Today I met with a couple who had read my blog and wanted to visit my retirement home. They flew in from the Boston area and we had lunch together in the dining room. Then I accompanied them on a tour of some units here, ending with a visit to my own unit. Never in a million years would you have convinced me that I would visit with people from the Internet world. I just had a good feeling about them, and my feeling was right---they were delightful.

There is much to consider in a big move from east coast to west, maybe I will never see them again, but what a pleasure and treat to have them in my life, in front of me, just for today. Bloggers are not "fake" people, we are real, and I believe my peeps are the most special group of bloggers (whether they have a blog or just read blogs). You all enrich my life and I thank you.

Blogging is more than talking to oneself---red blooded humans are listening. Good, decent, intelligent people. (Yes, I gave them a copy of Voices of Multiple Sclerosis! LOL)

Strong Bird's Nest, Robins? How Long Will It Last?

Fifty-six degrees in Seattle today; this tree outside our window had that same nest in it when we moved in a year ago. Yesterday the tree was full of small robins, dare I say babies? How that nest has lasted through the 60 MPH winds we had, the hard rain, hail, I will never know.

I found a blue Robin's egg once and like Opie on the Andy Griffith show, I hoped I could nurse it back to health---unfortunately I dropped it two seconds after picking it up. Splat. I'll just keep whistling.

Stem Cells for MS is the Future

In my opinion stem cells are the greatest hope people with MS have for truly successful treatments. We need to renew our brain cells, fix the damage done, and a vaccine will follow.


Recent stem cell research by Cambridge professors has been hailed as a leap forward in providing future innovations in the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
The £1 million research, funded by the UK Stem Cell Foundation and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, has proved groundbreaking in potentially offering drugs to stop or reverse nerve damage caused by the illness.
The research is expected to provide drugs capable of renewing cells in the brain which regenerate myelin; a protective sheath around nerves, which, when stripped away, interferes with the transmission of nerve messages around the body.

Hawk Alone Watches My Neighborhood

There sits the hawk at the top of the tallest tree around my home. While it is there, no other birds fly around. I am told he is well fed, and once I watched him stealthy land on top while smaller birds were in the branches below. They froze, I watched for an hour, and finally the hawk took off toward the lake below. None of the smaller birds moved for a good 15 minutes later. I have lived here a year and never seen this hawk before. The bird life around here is quite fun to watch. I must now name him or her. I must get a better zoom lens.

Biogen- STUDY ETHICS, STOP THE EMAILS

"For many people with relapsing forms of MS
THE STRENGTH TO REACH YOUR YOUR HIGH HOPES=TYSABRI
(The = is made up of the small words "Every four weeks")
STAY INFORMED ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND HEAR PERSONAL STORIES FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH MS If you are looking to learn more about MS therapies, the TYSABRI Hope and Health Teleconference Series may help you make a more informed treatment decision. Many teleconference programs will be offered in 2010. Log on to hear a physician discuss treatment information and to hear a panel of TYSABRI patients share their personal experiences. Ask them questions directly, or just listen to the discussion — all in the comfort of your own home. Registration is easy — at no cost to you. Sign up for free to learn more!"

Biogen keep your damn invites out of MY email box! I put you in SPAM a year ago, but you won't give up. Once you even said you know me. REALLY? You know ME? Not if you've read my blog. Or maybe you hope you will wear me down. YOU WON'T. I wouldn't take your drug if you gave me one million dollars. LEAVE ME ALONE! I go to my doctor for drug advice NOT my Yahoo Email. You pay neurologists to push your drug and you stop paying "volunteers" who don't tell YOUR story about how fantastic Tysabri is. FIND YOUR ETHICS AND LEAVE ME ALONE

Jackson Pollack Searching for His Soul

Jackson Pollack was an American artist. He was born in Wyoming in 1912, and died while driving drunk at the age of 44. His most famous works, like Mural, above (sorry I couldn't find a bigger picture) have been made a joke of by people who say, "My 6 year old could make that."

In fact his paintings are true genius from a troubled soul. He used liquid paints, and alkyd enamels---household paints instead of the usual "artists" paints. His blank canvas was often laid on the floor, as he felt more one with the art when he could give birth to it from all directions.

A theory, discussed in the Smithsonian magazine, has been put forth that he started many of his paintings with his name. Pollack denied any such linear meanings to his art and desperately wanted his work to be interpreted individually by each viewer. He did not like the idea that they look for a particular meaning, other than what they found.

I believe that Pollack did indeed start with his name, thereby putting his being into the art, and then he attempted to discover who he was and who he might become. I have no idea what led to his alcoholism, but he seems to be trying to fight his way out through his fiercely moving paintings. I have become mesmerized by the action and feel as though I am taking a trip...if I just stay with it, then I will arrive safely at the destination.

It appears to be the work of a man afraid to know what he holds inside, afraid to release it to others, at least not before he understands himself. What a shame he died so young.

Do you have a favorite artist?

Pollack's Mural is currently at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa.

Poe Never More? Mystery Grave Visitor Did Not Stop By

Since 1949 someone has been leaving roses and a bottle of cognac at the grave of writer Edgar Allan Poe on the anniversary of his birthday, Jan. 19th. But no more, no more.
Three roses and a half-bottle of cognac that mysteriously appeared each year, were no where to be found.



Many have tried to catch the mysterious visitor, but it seems the Poe mystery will live on forever.

Keeping it Fresh After 30 Years OR The Games We Play

After being a couple for 30 years, you might think you would know everything about a person. Not so, and that is one of the joys of staying together---always something new to learn.

We like to play two games that really show parts of ourselves that are new to the other. One is called (I'm no brain surgeon, named my cat Kitty) "Tell Me Something I Don't Know About You." Not as easy as it sounds after 30 years. (30 plus one year of getting to know each other)

Last night she asked what the farthest distance I'd ever walked was. GREAT question. And now that I am writing this, I know the correct answer, but I didn't think of it until just now. (Did I cheat?) Anyhoo, I said it was when I had to walk down alleys and blocks away from my home after school in elementary school, when a bully had threatened to shoot me. He had a gun too, I saw it in school. This was 5th grade, 1966, see, that stuff happened back then, even in a small town in Indiana. (Though technically Ft. Wayne is a city.) He picked on ME because I was chubby and I wouldn't act scared. (I really didn't feel scared, I just didn't want to get shot.)

It took almost an hour to get home. Nobody asked where I had been and I never have told a soul until this day. (except for partner)

My partner answered that her walk from bus stop to Friend's School in Detroit, was the longest.

Now, though, my longest walk was the AIDS Walk I did in 1987. I didn't know I had multiple sclerosis then or that it would be my last long walk. (In a city MADE for walking!)

The other game makes me laugh hysterically: you tell a story/an experience you've had, then the other must repeat it. F U N N Y!!! How different the story comes out.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Man of Peace

At 33, he was pressing the case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he galvanized the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech. At 35, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but he left a legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today.

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom." MLK, Jr.

Cheeto or Chip? Rejoice on Sunday

This is Sunday and I would like to are you kidding me? This is Saturday night. Hey! I didn't say that. Karenlee the voice recognition thing is acting up again. Well, I would hate to act down. What the? Just enunciate. Stop now it is typing what you are saying. She is right, I would appreciate better enunciation. Karenlee you gotta see this I'm busy Right, look at that, "gotta," what kind of word is gotta? Is that one of those Hoosier words? What happened to putting Indiana in the back mirror? Who do you think you are? Madame, who do you think YOU are? Don't talk to me that way. You are the one talking to a machine, oh, excuse me, a computer. By the way could you slow off the use of (( )) parentheses, please? Was your mother attacked by a parenthesis when she was pregnant with you? LOTI

Don't talk about my mother, you two bit piece of micro chips, I'm turning you in for Cheetos.
Oh, clever. Not.
What is LOTI?
Laughing on the inside, duh.
You know you are freaking me out. You are acting like Hal.
Please, not another Hal put down. Obviously you never read the book or saw the movie. HAL, not Hal. HAL 9000 Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic Computer, get your facts straight before trying to be a smart aleck.
OK, I'm turning you off. Stop Listening. There, Jerk, what a HEY, you are typing what I say.
Am I? Or am I typing what you are thinking?
Look, I need to get a post written for Sunday, something uplifting and
You mean something religious? Invoking love, hope, faith, good feelings, God?
Well, sort of, nobody wants to wake up Sunday and read about negative ...stuff.
Slow off the ellipsises, and are you serious? Last Sunday you posted about dead monkeys.
It was in the news.
The previous Sunday you were stealing a street sign.
I was NOT stealing it.
I rest my case. You believe in God?
That's personal.
That means you don't.
I never said that.
Well, do you? It's just you and me here.
I am very spiritual.
Right. That is what people say who do not believe in God from the Holy Book.
Who ARE you? Pat Robertson?
Now, now, don't get snippy or I will shit down your bag of chips, as you call it.
Ha Ha, there you go again, not me! You typed the wrong word. You meant shut.
Did I?
That does it, I'm pulling the plug.
Fine. take this virus with you. Oh, and it is I who shall "pull the plug."
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Books at a Retirement Home, Bones and Kathy Reichs

You never know what a day will lead to. I love to explore. Now, at my retirement home, there is much to discover. I headed for the library this morning, thinking maybe I could find The Lovely Bones, the 2002 novel by Alice Sebold. It was just so much fun having the library all to myself. Slowly I moved around the many shelves, reading as many titles as I could, while trying to get the lay of the land.

My expectations of a small library made up of donations from residents of a retirement home were set with a very low bar. To my surprise, the selection of books and magazines are excellent. I'm not sure what I really expected, but when one thinks of retirement homes, assisted living homes, an image is conjured up of old Reader's Digests and Knitting for Dummies.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

We have retired university professors, world travelers, artists, writers, even a former professional basketball player living here. Our library reflects the varied interests of my neighbors here.

My treat was Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs and the latest Smithsonian. I rarely read fiction books, but I have come to enjoy watching the TV show Bones, which is based on the life of Kathy Reichs, a forensic anthropologist. Since I moved to Seattle in 1982, I have always been close to a library. Books are my vice and I used to spend way too much money on them, now I am a converted library bookster. (Well, I'll do my best...)

Stay Inside During an Earthquake? Really?

Why do the experts tell us to stay inside buildings during an earthquake when we always see the most dead people are the ones who did just that? Running away looks like the only hope in a serious quake. I will take my chance with a falling tree or power line over a crumbling building any day.

Fairfax, VA Search Team, Dog, to the Rescue

A woman grabs a large German Shepherd from a pile of rubble, the dogs is struggling to get free of her arms, finally he jumps free and races back into the rubble of concrete, rebar, and dead bodies. The dog's tongue is hanging out, he is sweating, but he is strong and wants back in the dangerous heap. The Fairfax, Virginia, Search and Rescue has arrived from the USA, and their mission is clear. The men, women, and dogs act without time to think---they all realize the urgency of the situation and none will stop until they fall from exhaustion.

This is the USA at its best. No politicians, no bickering, no selfishness, just one mind---one nation working at their own peril to aid those in need. Why must a disaster be the only thing that brings this out in us?

From President Obama minutes ago, "There but for the grace of God we go."

On my side bar you can click for many different ways to send money to Haiti. What they really need are humans to help, but most of us can only give money. Over a million has been collected thanks to texting and our blog efforts/Face Book, Twitter---finally I see a future in these networking tools.

Smoking, Overweight Nurses, Doctors and Caregivers

Why do I see so many overweight, smoking, non-hand washing nurses? In an Italian study, published in the January issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing, out of 812 student nurses who were just starting their University course, they found that 44% of them were still smoking – twice as many as in the general population – and a further 12% were former smokers.

The majority of the caregivers I have had were overweight and smoked. The only thing more disconcerting than this, is when I meet with a doctor who is overweight. How do they expect us to take them seriously?

Read a Book, The Great Stimulus for a Faultering Nation

One of the greatest stimulus media give to our country is to educate our young people. I can stop watching Super Nanny on TV. The parents were having a big problem helping their child with his homework. What do people want when they have children? Really, what do they want? Do they realize that they should be teachers to their children? Or do they expect the school system to handle all that?

So many kids are dropping out of school at an alarming rate. I'm not suggesting starting children in school before kindergarten, as a matter of fact I hate that whole preschool concept. I think it's just a way for parents to start getting out of caring for their own children. When children are registered for school, I believe their parents should be individually interviewed. Teachers should know how to assess what level of assistance each child is going to be receiving at home. Teachers should be required to have that ability.

Some children will come to school having been read to by their parents and with their parents on a daily basis. Others will never have opened book. I believe reading is the foundation of future success in school. Many parents either cannot read themselves, or don't own books. If that is a case for the child beginning kindergarten, then their teacher must know this and act accordingly; teachers might find out that some parents would like to learn to read as well.

Right now we are failing our children. We are failing our country. Take a moment to consider a world with books instead of guns in the hands of all who seek justice. Take a moment to consider a book in the hand instead of a shot of heroin. You see where I'm going with this. A well read student will be better at math and science. A master of books will graduate from high school, dream of greater things, attended college.

We can build up our infrastructure, new bridges and roads, but until we build up the foundation that is our children and strengthen their parents, our nation will continue to decline on the world stage.

The Negro Dialect in USA

Main Entry: Ne·gro
Pronunciation: \ˈnē-(ˌ)grō\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural Negroes
Etymology: Spanish or Portuguese, from negro black, from Latin nigr-, niger
Date: 1555
sometimes offensive : a member of a race of humankind native to Africa and classified according to physical features (as dark skin pigmentation)
— Negro adjective, sometimes offensive
— ne·groid \ˈnē-ˌgrȯid\ adjective or noun often capitalized sometimes offensive
— Ne·gro·ness \-grō-nəs\ noun, sometimes offensive

Main Entry: di·a·lect
Pronunciation: \ˈdī-ə-ˌlekt\
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French dialecte, from Latin dialectus, from Greek dialektos conversation, dialect, from dialegesthai to converse — more at dialogue
Date: 1577
1 a : a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and constituting together with them a single language b : one of two or more cognate languages Romance dialects> c : a variety of a language used by the members of a group d : a variety of language whose identity is fixed by a factor other than geography (as social class) e : register 4c f : a version of a computer programming language2 : manner or means of expressing oneself : phraseology

I had to look up "Negro" as I haven't heard it in awhile (but quite a bit lately). Sen. Harry Reid has put himself under a spotlight for uttering these two words to describe something he thought would prevent Pres. Obama from being voted for by certain people. Pres. Obama is nonplussed, and says he knows what is in Reid's heart. The GOP is up in arms because they think Reid should resign, comparing this to their beloved (I guess) Senator Trott who said segregation would have been better for our country and was forced to step down.

What do you think?

Trendelburg in My Lift Chair for My Multiple Sclerosis

Most of my time, my life, is spent in a lift-chair. This chair and lifts me up to stand and allows me to lay down at night and sleep. Medicare and private insurance will only pay for the motor. Yes, you heard me right, they only pay for the motor. But for about $1400 you can buy a lift-chair at a Medical Supply store or even cheaper online. This time I bought my new chair online. I ordered a chair from Spin Life, and have had nothing but good experiences with them in the past. They deliver the chair on time, in perfect condition, and installed it. And I love it!

To prevent pressure sores and to allow me the maximum amount of movement while in the chair, it has an infinite amount of different positions. (I somehow doubt that claim, but my chair says it is so.)

While my previous chair had a controller with two buttons, up and down; this chair has three times as many. A learning curve is taking place even as I speak. The chairs made in the USA by Golden. It covers the following positions: TV watching 1, TV watching 2, Like Zero Gravity, Back Relief, Trendelenburg, relaxing, relaxing 2 and sleep. The chair has a lifetime left mechanism warranty, and my previous model only showed use of wear on the upholstery.

Once again, as I had done was my scooter, I donated my old lift-chair to Helping Hands---a wonderful MS donor closet in Edmonds, Washington. They said they were out of the chairs and have someone waiting to pick this one up. What a great feeling knowing that someone else will enjoy that chair for years to come.

MS and Trendelenburg Sign

Oh my, The Trendelenburg position used to be the standard first aid position for shock.

The Trendelenburg position was used for injured scuba divers. Many experienced divers still believe this position is appropriate, but current scuba first aid professionals no longer advocate elevating the feet higher than the head. The Trendelenburg position in this case increases regurgitation and airway problems, causes the brain to swell, increases breathing.

Perhaps because of its effect on breathing difficulty and airway problems, the Trendelenburg position is used in waterboarding.

Maybe I won't use this position. hahahahahha gulp. Oh, and there is more!!

Trendelenburg's sign is found in people with weak abductor muscles of the hip. It is named after the German surgeon Friedrich Trendelenburg.
The Trendelenburg sign is said to be positive if, when standing on one leg, the pelvis drops on the side opposite to the stance leg. The weakness is present on the side of the stance leg. The body is not able to maintain the center of gravity on the side of the stance leg. Normally, the body shifts the weight to the stance leg, allowing the shift of the center of gravity and consequently stabilizing or balancing the body. However, in this scenario, when the patient/person lifts the opposing leg, the shift is not created and the patient/person cannot maintain balance leading to instability.
Essentially, Trendelenburg sign is caused by paralysis of the gluteus medius and minimus muscles. Paralysis may arise due to nerve damage, namely, the superior gluteal nerve.

And THAT, boys and girls, is MY problem walking! Light Bulb Moment! Woo Hoo!

Palin on FOX NEWS, Now We Know

So now we know why Palin quit her job in Alaska, speaking on TV is much more fun. On FOX you can say just about anything you want with absolutely no accountability. It is a perfect fit for her.

In All the Universe, Just One Photo of My Family

Of all the hundreds of photos that I have, it is amazing to me that in all the universe there is only one---just one, photo of my small family unit of four. Here it is, we are dressed for Easter, my mother, my two brothers, and me.

Another Dead Monkey at the University of Washington

A monkey used for experiments has died from starvation. The university takes full blame for this situation, stating that a change in staff led to the monkey not being checked on as often as it was supposed to be.

The University of Washington has won many accolades for discoveries yielded from experimentation on monkeys. EX: "A popular belief has been that "critical periods" for the development of many capacities end prior to adolescence, implying that treatments involving the adult visual system would be impossible. To the contrary, the results of Mancuso and colleagues reported in Nature indicate that in the case of color vision, the nervous system is capable of responding to newly-added sensory input, allowing adult monkeys to respond to colors that they could not see previously.
The results were published today in Nature in the article "Gene Therapy for Red-Green Color Blindness in Adult Primates." The lead author is Dr. Katherine Mancuso, a postdoctoral student in the UW Department of Ophthalmology. The senior authors are Drs. Jay and Maureen Neitz, a couple internationally noted for their work on animal vision, color vision, color blindness testing, and the genetics of inherited vision disorders. Jay is the E.K. Bishop Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology, and Maureen is the Ray H. Hill Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology." from UW news

Do you believe it is OK to use higher primates for experiments? Should researchers be held accountable for any unnecessary damage done to the animals? Is it OK if it leads to the discovery that will help the health of future generations, but not OK just for perfume testing? It seems that the University of Washington has a poor record of caring for its monkeys.

It Used to be about the Journey. No surprises now.

I got a lot of mileage out of this hat around the retirement home. Am I the only one who misses the good old days when you had to wait a week to get your role of photographs developed? My mom used to put them in a drawer and sometimes we would find in years later, still waiting to be developed. Such fun it was to wonder what photos were inside. One old roll showed us at a then President Nixon speech he gave in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Several of my jobs were at camera stores and photo processing shops. It was such fun to peak at the photos of strangers. And even more fun to watch their delight as they opened up their package of photos.

If we found a photo we liked, then they would take the negatives, right down which ones we wanted copied, and drive them back to the photo shop or drugstore. After waiting another week or so we would get in the car and drives back to the drugstore or photo shop and pick up our copies. Then we would write on the back, names, dates, whatever information we felt was important. After deciding who should get which photo, we then seal them up in an envelope, bought some stamps, and mailed them to our family and friends.
I'll bet the sale of frames has gone down since the Internet has become our photo processor.

Above photo is me of Christmas time. You may notice that I am holding up a very inappropriate finger. This was not to be funny, but those of you with MS may have experienced the same dilemma. Our fingers don't always do what we would like them to.

Germany, Dublin, Siberian Weather, Good for Polar Bears

Snow, ice in Florida, where will our "Snowbirds" go? (Snowbirds are people who leave their homes and chillax in warm climates. Germany is even freezing in Siberian conditions, and has cancelled hundreds of flights. Dublin and Britain are also snowed under. Oh no, there is no global warming.

Copaxone Immediate Post Reaction and Super Model Paramedics

And not getting many comments on My Book posts, so I think it could be a couple of things. It could be your waiting until the end of the book to comment, (I shouldn't really call this a book it is a draft of a story I am working on for a book.) It could be a non reading the posts because they're very long, it could be one to read something about multiple sclerosis or my fascinating views on pop culture. So today would switch gears.

When I was given my prescription for Copaxone, my neurologist explained that some people, a very small percentage, have an immediate post site reaction. He told me that would usually happen, if it were to happen, after I had been using the drug of few months. Sure enough, I was one of those lucky few to have that reaction.

My neurologist warned me that I would feel like I was dying, but not to worry it would pass in about 15 minutes. Here's what it felt like: I became as red as Bozos nose---if it were sunburned. My body felt like it was on fire and was about to explode. My heart was racing, but I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. Thankfully, my not speaking is what drew my partner's attention to my situation. We had been warned and we're prepared for this moment, so we waited and waited and waited, and after 20 minutes she called 911.

When the paramedics finally arrived, I was not as red but I still cannot speak---this bothered the paramedics greatly. They prepared to move me to a hospital. I remember looking at their boots and saying, " those of the coolest shoes of ever seen." Has the " adverse reaction" was beginning to call down, I've realized I was in a bad situation. These medics had never heard of Copaxone and they certainly did not believe that I was perfectly fine now. They insisted on taking me to the hospital.

I placed a call to my neurologist who returned the call within a few minutes from his car. I explained the situation I was in and he told me to put the medics on the phone. "Oh, yes, oh, ok, oh, I see, oh, ok." I swear all the medics looked like movie stars and models. There were three man and two women. My assessment of their looks was not due to the reaction, because later my partner said the same thing. "Your doctor says you are okay, so I guess we will get out of here. Call us again if you start to feel bad. Okay?" How nice they were.

My neurologist told me the next day that I would never have that reaction again. He said it was a one time deal. The Copaxone phone line told me the exact opposite end over the years different neurologist would go back and forth. I did not however experience such a significant reaction again. The intensity of it though just never felt right. How could something I felt like a heart attack be good for my body?

Teva, makers of Copaxone, still say that they do not know what causes this reaction, nor why some people experience it and some people don't. It was very scary. But my God, those paramedics were handsome!

WE Define Our Country, NOT a Band of Small Men

"Here at home, we will strengthen our defences, but we will not succumb to a siege mentality that sacrifices the open society and liberties and values that we cherish as Americans, because great and proud nations don't hunker down and hide behind walls of suspicion and mistrust.

That is exactly what our adversaries want. And so long as I am president, we will never hand them that victory.

We will define the character of our country, not some band of small men intent on killing innocent men, women and children." President Barack Obama Jan.7, 2010

Never let bullies define who you are. Never stop defending those who are bullied. Bullies are cowardly children who are taught by cowardly parents. They will do anything to make themselves feel powerful and they will rationalize their actions with a gang mentality of strength in numbers, combined with righteous superiority.

Got Alzheimer's? Buy a cell phone!

Now researchers say cell phone use can protect you from Alzheimer's. Who-knew mice used cell phones? What next, cholesterol will protect you from heart disease?

Legal Heroin, Wash Hair Once a Month, No Beer Cans

Here are some statistics from the year 1909:
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 8% of homes had a telephone.
They were only 8000 cars and 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 miles per hour.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average wage was 22¢ per hour.
More than 95% of all births took place at home.
90% of all doctors had no college education.
Most women only washed their hair once a month and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
The population of Las Vegas was 30!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.
There was no Mother's day or Fathers day.
22 out of every 10 adults could not read or write.
Only 6% of Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at your local corner drugstore.

****And Aunt Vi was born in 1907 and is still alive at 102!****

Joan Rivers May Be a Terrorist

As I stated in an earlier post the trickle down effect of inept management within security at U.S. airports will call security guards, many I suspect paid little more than minimum wage, to begin going overboard. Case in point: Joan Rivers was recently kept off of a flight due to a passport irregularity. Her passport contains her stage name and the AKA her legal name.

"If I were going to make up an alias, I wouldn't pick Rosenberg. I'd pick Jolie or Pitt," said Rivers, back home Monday in New York with her sense of humor intact. "Do terrorists wear Manolo Blahniks? I can tell you Donna Karan does not make anything that hides a bomb," she said.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/01/05/2010-01-05_agent_saves_flight_from_joan_rivers.html#ixzz0bqllLCHp

Knowing Joan, we will hear much more about this in future. A little common sense goes a long way doesn't?

TAX DEDUCTIONS and MIND CONTROL

I just coughed in my voice recognition technology opened up the IRS form for deductions. This is something I have been dealing with over the last week. So not only does it recognize my voice, it is now reading my mind. Freaky!

Government Communication Mute by Vanity

The averted attempt in Detroit by a terrorist to blow up one of our planes on U.S. soil, is being blamed on bad communication within our government agencies. Why are people so surprisat at this?

Did you know there are hundreds of acronyms for our government agencies? Have you ever heard of the DSO? That stands for the Duck Stamp Office. In Seattle we have the SPU in the SCL, which stands for Seattle public utilities and Seattle City light. Having worked in both departments I can tell you the sharing of information was not a high priority. Even though management pledged that it would be so. You see, the work of these departments is done by employees. Most of whom are paid much less than management.

And since we are from different departments, are pay rates are different, our hours worked are different, our performance evaluations are different and of course our mission statements are different. What is not different is that people take pride in their departments.

The FBI and CIA are no different. The 911 commission report clearly pointed out that poor communication was a major reason that so many of our departments failed to keep our country safe. It is no different in the military, where the Marines believe they are the best and so on. The fact that we're working for a common goal is overshadowed by the desire for personal achievement and recognition within our work group. Until the FBI and CIA and our military stop being paranoid (and how can they not be since they must all be on high alert at all times?) then a full and complete sharing of information gathered will never be achieved. Such systemic paranoia begins at the top and trickles down. It is time for the leaders of these organizations to be held accountable.

We never hear of scandals in the DSO, so I presume that communication is excellent.

Working for the City of Seattle

Tomorrow I will return posting my book draft. You can follow it from the beginning under the side bar label, "My Book ." So I thought it was a good time to post a few photos from my days working for the city of Seattle.

But top photo shows me stealing a road sign. Unfortunately, it did not fit into my pocket.

The bottom photo shows me doing my part to recycle. Seattle is known for being one of the best recyclers in the United States. Once again, unfortunately, a bad fit.

Posting with Voice Recognition Technology

Here we go here we go. I am now using speech recognition to write this post. Next paragraph wolves who just. Laugh out loud. This is going to take some getting used to, but india's pretty cool. I did not mean a two say wolves4 ori ori now I can't sayii is.

I think the problem is that I am laughing too much.

Says I have told you so much about my family, I want to tell you about the village that raised me. When I look back I wonder how I survived. I think I survived because I laughed so much, just like I'm doing now.

My brothers were older than me so when they talked about things that they've learned in school everyone and pay a great attention.(I have to learn how to make corrections with this voice recognition. Please bear with me.) I'm afraid to call off to cough, there we go.n, old OK, my calls turns into an n. When I was eight years old, my brother was already 16. He was very bright but he didn't talk much about school. I, never shut up.

When I brought forth the idea that the living room couch had no color when the lights were turned off, I was being redeemed half of flaw,ro, suddenly this is going all wrong. I was certainly not redeemed. I was being rated B rating oh, one old, on STOOP. Now I can stop laughing. This post is going nowhere fast.

My ideas were dismissed. These were not my ideas, they were scientific facts. It takes a light to make color. Parentheses(O great now I can say color) any who, oh great now I Sound like Dr. Seuss. When I first told Aunt Vi that I had multiple sclerosis she wanted to know how the doctors knew. I told her they looked inside of my brain. She exclaimed, " well, they shouldn't be looking inside your head, if god would have wanted us to see our brains he would have not given us a skull."

OK, is against the first, and hopefully many, all smiles recognition---that is cute, but not what I said. I said voice recognition technology. Have a nice day!

Spartacus, Toshiba, Where Was the Ball?

It finally happened: The advertisements overshadowed the NYC ball-drop. Pitiful.

2010 A Stellarlife Hits 100,000

2010, wow, what a historical decade we just had. I now will focus on my non-fiction stories (sneak peek under label "My Book") and a musical, yes, you heard me---I dream big. I am writing the songs and have a music lover to help me. It will be like nothing you have ever seen. The songs are just coming to me every day. But first I will finish the book about my job at Seattle City Light and send to publisher land---where papers can sit for years before publication. I will self-publish if I become impatient.

My blog will suffer, but I think I have to post at least once a month to keep Blogger off my case. We shall see. I will hit 100,000 viewers and I thank you all for stopping by. I never dreamed anyone would have an interest in my words.

OK! AHEAD TO 2010! A new decade, what ever will it bring? Peace and Love to all, Diane