Author: staxone@me.com

'tis the Season to be Happy!

well…it’s carnival time at home*sigh*…i eh go lie, it’s the one time of year that i STILL feel homesick even after ALL these years!  I’m sitting here listening to Red FM (online radio station) and am absolutely gettin the fever.  I’ve mentioned in an earlier post that i can’t/won’t go home while I am still having problems walking – it’ll be even more depressing than being here freezin my ass off and knowing the kinda bacchanal (fetin/good good times) and going on home in the HOT SUN!!!

One of the things i absolutely love about carnival is how it brings the entire country together.  Man, woman, child, black, white, indian, young, old – everybody limin and having a good time.  For the season, is jes happiness and then on the 2 days itself, NO-ONE has any worries cept gettin to the band on time to push off.

To everyone who went home, take a jook, wine and a drink for me…i know there will be much PALANCIN goin on – truth be told, i eh bong to hear bout it when u reach back 🙂

these are just a few pics from last year…

"Learning" to Breathe

so at the wellness workshop last week, they taught us to use a breathing (diaghramatic breathing – deep breathing flexing your diaghram not ur rib cage) and progressive muscle relaxation techniques to help deal with stress and fatigue, among other symptoms.  Who knew we would learn how to breathe???  At the beginning of the workshop, we were given a CD (Time for Healing, Relaxation for Mind and Body), but didn’t find out exactly what it was for until last week.

The progressive muscle relaxation starts with your feet (tensing the muscles and completely relaxing them) and ends with the muscles in my face.  While i wasn’t as skeptical as I can be about things, such as this, i have to admit that it has me sleeping ah lil better and feelin less stiff.  I copied the CD onto my phone and every nite when i hit the bed, i go through the entire exercise (it lasts 20-30 mins) coupled with the breathing technique.  Tensing the muscles was extremely uncomfortable at first because u have to tense up and hold for a few, but it is getting better with each one.  (Try tensing – really tensing – ur facial muscles for 30 secs or so…it’s a RATHER uncomfortable feeling)

Anyway, after these past few weeks at work (things have slowed down for now, but i am not completely over the hump as yet), this is exactly what the the doctor ordered for me.

A picture of total relaxation right here…

My Car & Me

I had to go to the dentist (the devil) this morning.  I parked my car in a 1 hour short term parking zone – I knew that i was taking a chance – and went into the office.  4 hours later, i made the trek back to the car, that was still there (with no boot/ticket, etc) and it occurred to me that I could tell this story. 

The place i feel safest and most comfortable is driving (speeding) in my car!  I actually own my “dream car” (of sorts).  Years ago, my then boyfriend, C and I used to talk about owning a manual Civic EX with a sunroof..at the time we were driving a Buick Skyhawk that we lovingly referrred to as Betsy (of course).  He paid $500 for Betsy and we drove $5,000,000 worth of that car.  Betsy took us where we needed to go, when we need to go – no questions asked, until the day that she just died!  I’ve stepped up from that and I actually own the Civic EX with sunroof.  It’s automatic because G can’t drive a stick…WTH???  anyhoo…i digress…

I feel safest and most comfortable in my car.  If i’m out somewhere and have to walk to it, i can’t wait to get to it.  It’s the one place that i don’t feel affected by this disease AT ALL!  

  • When I can hardly walk/stand, I can drive – no problem
  • I will NEVER fall while IN the car (maybe coming out or going in but never while sitting in it)
  • No-one can see me struggling to get by
  • I can still drive “like a bat out of hell” if I want to (i have to take my time when i’m walking esp if i’m on my own) 

On top of all that, i actually LIKE my car and never once regretted buying it!

New Year's Resolution

I’ve never made a new year’s resolution.  NEVER!  Are u supposed to make them on Old Year’s nite?  New years day?  Are u supposed to tell someone?  say it in ur mind? who knows – NOT me!  Well this year I’m making one and I’m saying it out loud. 

There are few other people in this world who hate the gym and working out as much as I do.  (I finally cancelled my gym memebership at the local gym which was debitting my account monthly!)  I mean, I can’t stand it…If i can get my way I would get my workout in by sitting on a machine and let it do all the work for me.  I was having dinner with a friend in FL and we discussed (he feels the same way i do).  I told him to start working on a plan to get something marketed; I will be his FIRST customer. 

At any rate, i bought a Wii and a Wii Fit for myself last year.  I started off hot and heavy using them both to get my workout in daily (almost), I kept it up for quite some time and then something happened – I’m not sure what – and I haven’t used either of them in a minute.  One of the most important things that an MS patient can do is to workout regularly. I know this! Everytime i go to my neurologist, he asks me how it’s going….the last time he asked me I was very excited to be able to say that i was doing it maybe 2 or 3 times a week – he told me that I should increase to 3 or 4! (what does he want? blood?)

Anyway, so this year Santa gave me a Wii Fit Plus; I also bought another Wii game “The Biggest Loser” – it’s a fitness program to be used along with the Wii Fit.  I am resolving this year to workout consistently.  I do not have to trek to the gym in the cold, in the rain, in the heat…I will be IN my living room – I have NO excuse…besides who benefits in the long run?  ME!

Alternative "treatment"

One day, i went to the mall by myself.  As i was walking/struggling out (i was actually fed up of being in there and was starting to feel a little sorry for myself – i told u that i do have bad days sometimes), one of the security officers ZOOMED past me in a segway.   U know that she pissed me off; I just wanted to bitch slap her down off it.  That got me to thinking (and I’ve actually had conversation with others) about my using one to get around.  But…would i be able to keep my balance on the damn thing?  U do have to stand on it…will it really help me?  besides which, will the insurance company even consider paying for even 1 wheel of it? hmmm…food for thought…

I’ve told people about my condition and they’ve suggested Tai Chi, Yoga, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy…the list goes on…even changing my diet.  The person who told me about the dietary changes sent me an email and the first thing on the list was pork – NOT happening!!!…i think that there are very few people on this earth who enjoy the PIG more than me!  My doctor will have to sit me down and say, “Stacey, you will die tomorrow unless u stop eating pork” for me to give it some serious thought 😉 i digress…
I scanned the rest of the list and there were a few things that either i cut out totally or have started to cut down; sugars, dairy to name a few…will that actually make a difference?  who knows, but i have nothing to lose.  I actually read an article the other day where an MS patient claimed to be cured after changing her diet…hmmmm; I’m not a believer.  Modern science has told us that there is no cure so u have to wonder was she really cured or is she in remission? 
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