Monday, July 20, 2015

Sunday

Sunday.  Smooth Jazz Brunch on the radio.  Cleaning the house is my task for today.  Not just cleaning, like..toothbrush, toothpick, under, over, behind cleaning.  No room is left untouched.  Sometimes it is worse than others. Sometimes it is just Sunday cleaning...sometimes it is like this Sunday.   This Sunday, it was the house, sunporch, decks, garage... Then comes dinner.  It has to be perfect. Labor intensive five star perfect and with wine to pair, of course.  It is my favorite day.  THIS is what I love...and the more kids running around during the process the better.

Today is Monday.  I feel like I've been beaten, run over, left for dead.  Every muscle aches from the top of my neck down to my feet.  I still haven't figured it out.  It is almost like self-inflicted punishment but I don't know what for.  I LOVE it.  I always remember, back when I managed the vineyard, how many cleaners I never had return because I could do a better job myself...and I did...don't get me wrong.  I just thing somehow..its punishment.  

Besides cleaning my house ( :-) ) I have achieved some other accomplishments this week.

I took the family to ECAD Dobbs Ferry, NY to re-certify Crane.  Every year I must pass our Public Access Exam and other ECAD requirements in order to keep Crane in my possession and be legal to bring her into public places with me.  One of the requirements is weight.  The dogs can be no more or no less than 5lbs from the weight at graduation.  Crane's weight was 64lbs at graduation.  At testing she weighed in at 66lbs.  Those of you with Labs and Retrievers know how difficult this is.  As far as the Public Access Exam, Crane was a star.  At one point the instructor had us go up an elevator (loading and unloading from it correctly).  She had me bring Crane to one end of the hall, give her the "down-stay" command and walk all the way to the far end of the building.  She told me I had to turn and face Crane, call her to me and get her in the "side" or "heal" position.  Oh, and also.....there was beef jerky in 2 locations between her and I.  ...  ...  Great .. ... Oh, and by the way, if she eats it....I fail.
Here goes nothing.  I turn, call Crane, and what does she do?  She stops....at the jerky....she sniffs...  I tell her NO sternly.  She opens her mouth....  She reaches down..... She grabs her leash and she comes running right at me, gives me her leash and lines up on my blind side without me even having to tell her the command.  THAT is my dog.  THAT is who she is!  Not only did she pass, the trainers were slightly sad that she did not even look at them, acknowledge them.  They are the ones that made her who she is.  So. I took off her vest and gave her the "release" command and she licked and jumped al over them like she was a pup again,  :)  They then issued us our new license and off to Legoland we went!!
I also had the Tirerack Street Survival experience this week.  The class was held at Thompson Motor Speedway.  It is meant for teen drivers.  To make them realize the unexpected scenarios that can happen while driving and how to properly handle them.  I have been driving fine since the vision loss in my right eye.  I always have driven safely...So I think.  I've had my license for 24 years and have one accident on record.  I also have three young kids.  So, "I think" isn't good enough for me. I wanted to make sure I can still react quick in unforeseen incidents.  This class was perfect.  The classroom stuff....it was like teen driver's ed, but out on the track..that was a different story.  They had us do 4 different driving exercises: Panic braking, slalom, skid pad and emergency lane change.  They all put the driver and car to the test.  I got to see how fast my car accelerated from a standstill and then how fast I could get it to stop in a straight line.  I was able to experience weight load ratio as it affects the potential of roll over.  I tested my skills on making a split decision with emergency lane changes.  Then, there was my favorite, the skid pad.  The fire department flooded the skid pad and we were able to see how much it would take for our cars to break loose and loose traction.  Exhilarating!  Well, as exhilarating as it can get in a minivan :).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AfDHF8pMww

So now what?  Nothing great.  I go to Yale this week.  It is my annual MRI and Neurology appointment.  Among other issues, my treatment with Tysabri will come up.  Recommended treatment period is 2 yrs.  I am soon approaching that.  So, I need to choose whether to increase my risk of PMI, this non-curable brain degrading disease or try my luck at another treatment.  Yay.  
I will keep you posted
Until then, here's some extra reading material by yours truly.
 http://mymsaa.org/publications/motivator/winter-spring15/inspire/
www.mybeautifullifewithms.com


Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Welcome!



Where to start?  It seems like it has been so long since I have written a blog post.  So, I guess I will start with what I have been up to:
Last month was officially my last month as President of the PTO at our local Elementary School. This decision, obviously, came with many mixed emotions. I loved loved loved the position, the close relationships with teachers, getting to know 176 kids.  However, with a small town such as ours, even small roles become politically involved. That part, I will not miss. I will terribly miss the others.  Also, with all my upcoming events, I suppose I had to give up something.

So, all this free time now..what am I doing with it?  Well, The Goshen Farmers Market starts up this Saturday.
 This has been my "baby" for 2 years now.  A very passionate group of locals started this market up years ago. They are dedicated and "never-give-uppers" but the market turned into a few vendors sitting around on Saturdays in a school parking lot for a couple "never-give-upper" customers.  So, (you know me) I felt compelled to help.  It's been 2 years and with the help of the market founders and some other key people we are a CT State certified market.  We are one of only a few markets at a CT Vineyard. We have live music, kids activities, vendors galore, etc...it is wonderful....and A LOT of work.  I have taken on "the official" role of Treasurer and Marketing Director.  However, there is much more that keeps the wheels turning: music coordination, craft and activity planning, insurance coordination, emails, event listing social media, press releases, branding, vendor recruitment, sponsorship recruitment, website updating, etc, etc...  So, is THIS weekend,  If you are local- PLEASE BE THERE.  At least check out our website www.goshenfarmersmarket.com  or Facebook at www.facebook.com/goshenfarmersmarket
These were my accomplishments this week:
My other accomplishments this week? I finished my first book.  Yes, I wrote a book!  It's just a "starter" book to get the feel of what it takes to go through the publishing process.  If I am lucky, in 6-8 months, I may possibly get a reply from one (or maybe more) of the 30 or so publishers I sent the manuscript to and I might get an offer to have it published. By then I will hopefully have completed my second (It's currently all in my head) and then my third...which will take quite a while I imagine.

What else?  Al and I are graduating next week.  Some of you know that we have been taking a training course for the past 11 weeks.  Next week we will become certified Foster/Adoptive Parents through the state of CT.  http://www.ctfosteradopt.com/fosteradopt/cwp/view.asp?a=3795&Q=498606.  So, there is a chance you will see us with another child..maybe more over the future months and years.  We are not allowed to post pictures of our foster children on Facebook and we are not allowed to tell you about their history, their family or why they are in foster care (nor do we want to).  I think back to one of my favorite books, Choosing Civility; The 25 rules of considerate conduct(a must read).  Just because someone is curious about something doesn't justify their question or deem it appropriate.  We just hope our friends and family will welcome our children and know how happy and fulfilled this venture makes us.  This is something we each always wanted to do and now that we can't have more kids ourselves, what better time to possibly help others.  We thank you, in advance, for your support and respect!

Relating to the above,  here is my soap box lecture / pet peeve for this blog:  Making people feel welcomed.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about this lately, how some people are welcoming and comforting towards others and some are not.  It takes a lot of strength and the ability to put yourself aside to actually welcome people into your life.  To share your life with them and make them feel comforted and a part of your life.  I believe a lot of people aren't capable of this because of such things as they are too self-absorbed, or too consumed with their own agenda.  Or, they are cold, insensitive or compartmentalized to some degree.  When people are like this, it doesn't make others feel welcomed or comfortable and when you're not comfortable you leave.  Sure, sharing your life openly sometimes comes with its downfalls.  It makes you vulnerable, it opens you up to "favors" because people feel comfortable and...sometimes...people feel comfortable that you DON'T want to.  All of those have their positive twists though.  I think feeling vulnerable is a good lesson, it's humbling. Favors, well as long as they are well intended, are only time or money. As far as people feeling welcomed into your life that you wouldn't necessarily want to feel that way?  You are leading by example.  You are teaching others how to behave with grace and sensitivity.  Just an observation about life that I never would have noticed prior to my new life, the one with MS.  I'm done.

OK.  So, I always go to extremes right?  Speaking of that, I decided I should refresh my driving skills.  I believe I am still a safe driver.  However, with my limited vision, I want to be sure I can handle unforeseen incidents.  So, I signed up for a program called "Street Survival".  It is held at Thompson Motor Speedway and its next weekend.  I CANNOT wait. We are making a trip of it and also visiting the Worcester Ecotarium.  The event coordinator for Street Survival, instructor and race car driver coincedentally only has vision in one eye also.  Cool, huh?  Well,,,,, you know what I mean.

I guess I should mention my MS huh?  It is holding steady.  I do have many more good days than bad lately.  Though, I still have daily nagging symptoms, I seem to be able to push through them better. My one weak spot is headaches.  Extreme headaches.  It was recommended that I go to a headache specialist to determine if they are nerve related, ocular or maybe cluster but I really see the doctor way too much.  For now, I hang in until I just feel like I am facing 2 options: 1. death or 2. Hospital.  Then, I call up Al and he puts me on oxygen for a bit and gives me a pain pill. That seems to take the edge off.  Otherwise, I am just plugging along.

I am coming up on A YEAR now that I have had Crane, my Service Dog. I still cannot comprehend that.  Time flies.  Each year I have to get re-certified and pass a Public Access Exam to remain able to go into public places with her.  The laws are cracking down and no longer are Therapy or Emotional Support dogs allowed to go out into restricted public places.  So, this exam and re-licensing is important.  After my third year, Crane is officially mine :)  I am very lucky to have her.  She is SUCH a help and comfort.
I will leave off on that note, as I have a trillion things to do.  The kids are now in summer camp and when that is over it is school FOR ALL OF THEM. WOW!!!!  Think of what I will be able to take on then ;)
Cordially,
    Tina