Chicken Parts, Arthritis Pain, and Life In the Slow Lane

We went and picked up chicken feet and giblets today from our friends who are running the new CSA, their chickens were butchered and they didn't want the best parts! I got about 15 lbs worth of livers, hearts, and gizzards, and of course feet. I'm having hearts and livers for lunch tomorrow, fried up nice and crispy, a little salt and pepper, dash of hot sauce, I know, I know, sounds delicious! Funny thing is the rest of my family has asked me to cook, and eat my treats when no one is home?

The doctors told me I had arthritis in my ankles, probably because I had broken them both years ago playing ball. I'm starting to wonder if this searing pain I am feeling in my knees could be arthritis and not have anything to do with the MS, or ligament damage from said ball? We aren't talking about cramps, or Charlie horses, I'm talking pain! Is that what arthritis is, just pain? I thought it hurt when you did things, like the woman on the commercial that plays badminton. This hurts, and hurts bad, just sitting, and I do a lot of just sitting! I hear getting older is the pits, but let me tell ya, getting older with MS is no picnic.

I did absolutely nothing today. I mean I did watch the Orioles get beat again, and I had to tell the wife to please not walk in front of the TV while she did the laundry, and cooked dinner, but other than that I was useless! I may be getting addicted to the stimulator, it makes the leg feel so much better having it electrocute with every step, or every few seconds, reminds me of how I was with the AFO. Small price to pay I suppose, I wish I didn't need it at all, but my grandmother told me at an early age, well I can't tell you what my grandmother used to tell me, just know that it made it clear things didn't always go your way! Do the Orioles play again tomorrow, because I'm going to be available, all day?

The Cruise is Here, Small Fall in the Bedroom, and Anchors Away Matey

Cruise time is upon us, I can't believe it! The in-laws are coming around 11:15 or so, we are caravaning through the Fort McHenry tunnel to the cruise terminal, about a 15 or 20 minute trip. We can start boarding at noon, and the SS Minnow shoves off for it's 3 hour cruise at 4. I suppose we will be eating between noon and 4, or playing shuffle board, can't wait! We have everything packed, I never worked that hard! OK, the wife doesn't let me pack, she thinks I'd screw it up, so that time I threw everything in a duffle bag and said I was ready worked!

I'm taking the stimulator, and the afo, although I was never a boyscout, I did beat one up once! Took a spare pair of glasses just in case too, boy how times have changed. In the old days, I took extra clubbing clothes, and pheromones to attract the opposite sex. Today I took all my meds, my injector kit, 2 walking devices, and a cane! Thought I ruined the entire trip, fell last night in the bedroom and put my head through the bathroom door. Just a mild concussion, and probably a broken wrist or 2, but I'm OK! Actually, all that was hurt was my dignity, but I don't have a lot of that left at this point, so no biggie. I can't wait.

The first thing the boy and I are going to do is scope out the buffet locations, just to get our game plan ready. Each of the kids are in a cabin with one of there cousins, leaving me and the wife to have a mini 2nd honeymoon on the briny blue, too cool! We have a porthole, so no chance falling overboard from out room. A ton of pictures will be taken, ones of me not in a swim suit will be shared! Look for me on Thursday you Swabbies!

Multiple Sclerosis, Yard Sale Success, New AFO, and Mothers Day Madness

The sale of the century was the event of the year. The rain held off, it was a beautiful day, and we made a little coin. The very, very best part of the day was the very last part, when we had nothing left to return to the basement. We met a few neighbors we didn't know, put signs up trashing the other neighbors who set up for the sale, and had a very nice day in all. The wife is really hot now on setting up her block party, if she's involved, it will be a hoot!

Went to therapy today, to the limb clinic, picked up my AFO brace, and I got two for the price of one. Neither has an articulated ankle, the old one does, and each has a different level of flex, the form on the back of the brace, the shape, is different on both, as well as the closure. Between the 3 braces, I should be able to find one that fits my needs, although I never plan on wearing any of them again, but I suppose I will have to play that by ear.

We had a nice mother's day celebration, I'm sure the wife did as well. We had her family here, We had a killer cookout, and a beautiful day. My mom was down the beach, so I didn't get a chance to see her. After dinner we lit the chiminea, made smores for dessert. The wife's parents had never had them before! WHAAAAAAA? How is that possible? How can you live 80 plus years and not have a smores? We took turns toasting out marshmallows, all different ways, from the light toast, to the towering inferno! Mine were charred remains, filled white hot lava, good eats. I hope all the women in my life had a good one, they sure deserve it.

Multiple Sclerosis, Bioness On the Job, AFO Issues, and Shopping Date Night

Bioness contacted me yesterday by email. At first I thought it was just a procedural thing, they were thanking me for shopping team Bioness, or asking me if I wanted to purchase a Bioness T-shirt or something. Then I got to the part where I saw they had read on my blog that I wasn't completely satisfied with the some parts of the stimulator, and I got a little creeped out. After looking for hidden cameras for about an hour, I realized they had probably Googled themselves and found my blog that way. I am waiting to see if they contact me tomorrow, I imagine they will.

I go to the limb clinic at the hospital tomorrow, I want to have the new AFO brace fixed. They told me I needed to go downtown to have it fixed, I told them no, they were able to take the insurance companies money at the clinic, they should be able to fix their mistake there too. I am also going to tell them I don't want to pay the $20 co-pay tomorrow or the next time. I wouldn't be there if they done it right the second time, so we shall see if I drop from #1 favorite patient status.

We, me and the wife, are going on a date tomorrow to the grocery stores. I make up a list, check it twice, then we go make the rounds to the local stores. We are eating better, so the list doesn't include any of the crap we shouldn't have, or want! Fresh fruit, fresh veggies, or frozen of each. A friend asked me yesterday if I liked persimmons, I don't know that I ever had one? I need to figure out when all the local food comes in so we can load up on it. I can't wait to go out tomorrow, it's always fun with my baby.

Multiple Sclerosis, Sheriff's Gathering, Ear infection, and Total Energy Drain

We went to a meeting of the Baltimore County Deputy Sheriff's Association today, what a great group! This was probably one of the smaller gatherings we've had in a while, only 8 of us, what a great day we had. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, our hosts opened their beautiful home to us, and put on an incredible spread for us. It may have been a smaller group, but it made it easier to hear everyone's stories, and get caught up on everyone's lives, good times.

We took the girl to the doctors today, I thought it might be the plague, or scurvy, but it turned out to be a simple ear infection. She hasn't had one of those since she was a little girl. I'm just glad she wasn't infectious, coughing and sneezing all over the place. I let her out of quarantine when we found out she wasn't going to spread anything, I'm good that way.

I am totally out of energy today, my mobility is suffering too. I'm a little concerned with just how tired I have been. For me, there is a difference between fatigued and being tired, I am also fatigued, but I am dog tired, weary all the way down to my bones. I can't tell if this due to having more activity, or if this just the way things are now. My problem is, it takes so long to rebound after activity, I can't tell what to blame this on. I'm debating if I should wear the brace for a week or so to see how I feel, just sit around and stare at the wall, but that's not a way to live, but I am scared this may be the start of something new.

Multiple Sclerosis, Gardening Blues, and Overwhelming Fatigue

Today was a tough one. I'd like to say I didn't feel like myself, but that would be a lie. Sadly I felt just like myself, no breaks from that. I was going to go out in the yard and finish planting the idiot garden, it was a beautiful day and I wanted to take advantage of it, no go. I am so totally out of gas that that I'm useless, I mean even more then normal.

I dragged the leg today even with the brace on. I have been wearing the brace to work outside because the leg is too weak to work with the stimulator yet. I need to start getting help with the early stages of things like the garden, weeding, moving, and building. To top things off, my back is acting up, feels like a hot poker is...well it's someplace it doesn't belong.

My hands are really bothering me, yes, my hands, plural. Everything is acting up, either rebelling against me wanting a life, or the normal progression of things. My eyes are giving me a fit, not wanting to focus in, and that annoying little thing they do, that flash to black when I stand up. Cranky said it best, I'm taking my ball and my bat and I'm going home. Thanks Cartman, I should have listened earlier. The next few days will be supervisory at best, maybe from my bed, barking orders with my cell phone, the world will appreciate that.

Multiple Sclerosis, Vitamin D, Garden Club, and a House Full of People

I did a great job today, even if I do say so myself. Worked out in the yard like a field general! I had the boy all to myself, no cell phone, no video games, just me and him. He's the one that did the great job, got everything cleaned up for the club meeting tomorrow, looks great outback. I did great in that I let him do it, and I wore the brace, the leg isn't strong enough yet to go it with the Stim.

I need to go have blood work Monday to have my vitamin D level checked, I want to see where I am with it. The last time it was checked, the level actually dropped, so if that happens again I imagine the neuro will want to up the dosage from 50,000 iu a week. I wonder if it's normal to have a drop taking it at that amount?

It looks like 7 people are coming tomorrow for the garden club meeting. I got the rest of my supplies tonight, the pond filter baskets, and we will be ready to rock tomorrow. The plan is to make one of the idiot planters, then if anyone brought their supplies, let them make theirs. I'm really looking forward to it. I also got 2 trays of vinca to plant in the various flower pots. The kid rang them up and did it wrong, he only charged me for one pack, not one tray. I told him I thought it was wrong and informed me it wasn't, did I want to see a manager? Nope, I must have been wrong, $24 worth of flowers for $3.75, I wish I had more!

The girls friend is here, she is a super nice girl, and I am trying to be on my best behavior. They both have the same name, so I may call them K1 and K2. She told us her parents are very happy she isn't at school on a holiday weekend, and we are happy to have her, feels like we are doing a good deed when we are doing nothing.

Multiple Sclerosis, Lack of Manners, Victory Gardening, and The Omnivores Dilemma

I got out front and trimmed the bushes today, I think I did a good job, and one I shouldn't have done it, as I was weak kneed and wobbly by the time I was finished. The bushes do look good though, so I suppose it was worth it, and it had to be done. Plus, it was a nice 2 hour nap that followed!

I'm trying to talk the wife into going downtown to the Enoch Pratt Free Library to hear a lecture by Michael Pollan, author of "Omnivores Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food". I like both his style, and the subject. I think we are killing ourselves with our food, Pollan talks about just that. I said if she didn't want to go, just put me on a bus.

My new friend Anne had a good thing on her site Disabled NOT Dead She said that if you stop in, leave me a note to let me know you were here.

Paul the Hermit agrees with me, people aren't polite, their kids are misbehaved, and they are passing it down to the next generation.

I haven't worn the brace now for 4 weeks, that's nice, but I'm still not there yet. I'm still weak, still unsteady, I need to loosen up too. I am serious about getting Wii yoga, I think it I need someone to stretch me out, one of those Helga looking Swish women.

We are having a victory garden meeting here on Saturday, if you find yourself in the neighborhood, stop in and see what we are up to. I'm gong to put together an idiot tub so everyone can see how easy it is. Should be a hoot.

Rebif time, remember, leave a short note so I know who was here, I'd appreciate it!

Multiple Sclerosis, $1 Crabs, Cranking Up the Stimulator, and Used Furniture Haven

I learned something about the stim today I didn't know, or I forgot. I was out in the yard getting the idiot garden started, some broccoli and yellow squash, and as I was finishing up, I got tired. I was having problems getting the leg up, and the foot wasn't cooperating. I took the remote control out of my pocket and cranked up the juice, I had forgotten about that. It did the trick short term and I was able to finish outside and get in the house without a crane. It is still catching me off guard how tired I get from actually using the leg. Makes me wonder if I agreed to the original brace too early, and now I am trying to overcome that as well?

It's dollar crab night, and I am starving! I am going to put a dent in those little water arachnids! We have a crab eating table downstairs, all the fancy people do you know. It's our old sewing machine treadle based table that you can do anything on. Got that one from the parents years ago, like a lot of our furniture! I am either really thrifty, or really cheap, probably a little of both, we have very little furniture we bought new. None of our sofas, or chairs, or bedroom furniture, sans beds, all but 1 of our TV's, and a couple of end tables lived someplace else before here! I'm thinking now the couple of things we did buy we got screwed on!

Multiple Sclerosis, Bioness Stimulator, and a Hopeful Outlook

I went and got the stim calibrated today and it is so cool! I am able to walk without the cane, actually better without the cane, for the first time in a while with confidence. I will need to build the strength in the right leg, and the left for that matter, I usually take them both with me when I go out! I also need to get comfortable putting it on in the right place. If the sensors aren't in the right spot, all you get is a steady jolt of electricity down your leg, and though not painful, it's hardly useful. I got to walk all around today, it was cool, exciting, and a bit scary.

This is a big thing for me, one that I worry about what I will do if it doesn't work. The alternative is back to the brace full time, and continued loss of mobility. I don't expect this to make me feel like I don't have MS, but it would be nice to be able pretend I don't for a while. I have a lot of work ahead of me, more learning, and even more adapting to what comes next. I'm lucky to have a lot of people behind me hoping for the best, now it's my job to take advantage of it. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, something that doesn't happen so often anymore. I'm looking forward to it because I have something to do that should not only be fun, it is important too. I had a really good day.

Multiple Sclerosis, Madoff Goes to Jail, Craptastic Dinner, and the Stim is In

So let me see, they revoked Bernie Madoff's bail today, who doesn't think that it was about time? How about this one, his wife left the courthouse and went back to their rather pricey penthouse apartment. Why hasn't that been seized? Oh, worried about innocent until proven guilty? Yeah, right! People without $100G an hour attorneys would have been out day one and if proven not guilty would have had to sue to get back what was taken from them. What about his investment company, the one they claim is legit? Yoik! Take it and tell his family you will be back for them next.

I made what may have been the worst dinner in history tonight? I usually do fairly well, but not tonight. I made it the other day and it was great, I had it 2 days in a row for lunch. Real simple, tofu and broccoli in a peanut sauce, nothing to it. The wife likes a lot of sauce with this kind dish, and I like to make her happy. What I didn't take into account was how overpowering the extra sauce would be. The wife went out to get my vitamin D, and to pick up a little nosh. That's only fair, dinner was her fault!

Guess what the delivery dude brought me today? That's right, the stim came today! I opened everything up, read all the literature 5 or 6 times. Plugged everything in to charge all the batteries, then read the directions a couple of more times. The hardest part of the day for me was keeping myself from putting the whole rig on and juicin that baby up! I did try it on, fit just right. I told them at therapy today, we set up the regiment for that, and I told them the things I didn't like about the brace. We shall see how that works out, but the stim came today, so all is good!

Multiple Sclerosis, Neuro Stimulator, Regular Day of Not Feeling Good, and Ben Stein Rules

The wife and I like watching Sunday Morning on CBS, it usually has really uplifting stories instead of the horrors the real news has, plus I can remember when it's on. One of my favorite guys is Bill Geist, he does real light hearted pieces about off the wall things, like dog beauty pageants and the such. One of my heroes is also on the show, Ben Stein. He has a great resume, including Presidential speech writer, actor, comedian, game show host and political analyst. He gave his unique views on how to fix our current economic woes, and made me laugh at the same time! I just wish he had given me one Bueller.

I didn't feel very good yesterday, regular human not feeling good, not super human MS dude not feeling good. That is always a sure sign that I won't feel good the next day, and this was no exception. I feel like I was left out of the frigifrator overnight, and thawed out a little too much. Everything is where it is supposed to be still, I just can't feel it to be able to use it the right way. I think I notice it in my hands more then my legs? The old legs never feel right, so they can only get so much more unsteady. The hands on the other hand, ha, that was good, but the hands give me a fit. My hands feel like they are 10 times there normal size, with not a whole lot of dexterity. Lets hope tomorrow brings better things.

Speaking of what tomorrow brings, I sure hope it brings word of the stim. I'm very excited about the entire concept, especially since I'm having so much trouble getting the new AFO right. The stim place is on the West coast, so I can't drive there to pick it up. If it was in Kansas I may had taken a road trip to pick it up by now. I might even be able to wear my high top Chucks again, but we won't rush things. I will give up the Chucks if this thing works, plus it gives me a reason to go on a shopping spree for new shoes! I wish that did it for me the way it would if the wife had a reason to go shoe shopping!

Multiple Sclerosis, Uncomfortable AFO Brace, a Talent Auction, and I'm Not Fat, I'm Big Boned

We went to a talent auction at church tonight, it was pretty cool. It was just what it sounds like, if you have a talent, people bid on it, and that's all I have to say about that. People made, quilts, afghans, and pies. They donated Orioles and Iron Birds tickets. A time share was even auctioned for a week anywhere in the network. Any room painted in your house, lawn work, and light hauling. The wife donated her signature chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate drizzle popcorn, and marshmallow macaroons. She was a nervous wreck that nobody would bid, but they did, quite well as a matter of fact. It was fun, a nice night with the in laws, and they fed us too!

I wore the new brace for a while today, but it just doesn't feel right. It's too loose, and I don't like it! I am going to have to complain to Russel when I go in for clinic at the end of the month. I am really starting to think I should have gone back to the place I got the first one, but I thought motor oil was motor oil. I'm not paying the $20 copay when I go in for them to fix this damn thing again either! Wouldn't it be cool if all of this was moot? As soon as I get the stim I am going to try and never put the brace on again! OK, that may be somewhat ambitious, but a guy can hope, right?

Let's talk about our weight. OK, let's talk about my weight then! I have got to loose some tonnage, I'm worried my skin is going to burst open and skinny me is going to crawl out, leaving a fat, quivery chrysalis behind! That was gross, even by my standards. My point is, I need to do something about this and I think my body has changed as a result of being old, diet alone no longer does it. Exercise isn't a great option, I vacuumed today and my back hurts like hell! That's OK, I never liked sit ups anyway! Once again, a lot of my eggs are in my stim basket. I have to hope I am going to be able to at least start walking again to burn some calories. I will find out soon keep your fingers crossed! A fat quivery chrysalis, where do I come up with this stuff?

Multiple Sclerosis, AFO Adjustments, End of Physical Therapy, and Lending a Helping Hand

I've worn the new brace for a couple of days now, still not sure what I think? I'm going to have the guy adjust a few things, take the ankle strap off and see about getting rid of the padding on the bottom of my foot. Well, not get rid of the padding on the bottom of my foot, the padding on the brace where the bottom of my foot goes. All of it is a comfort issue comparing the new brace with the old, and at this point the old brace holds a slight lead in that department. We shall keep at it until I get it just right! Still no word on the stim, I will wait until tomorrow, then start a courteous phone campaign to find out what is next.

Physical therapy was the last one until the stim comes. We adjusted the height of my cane, it was a little long, high, whichever one makes sense. The therapy gal had me use one of their adjustable metal canes with a straight handle and I liked it! I have a wooden shepards hook cane that is all beat to hell, and it gave me a splinter in my chin, so I may have to replace it. I got the splinter resting my chin on the hook of the cane. I did like the one today. The therapy girl asked me if I was ever serious, and I asked her why? She told me it was a very good point! There are enough times that I have to deal in reality, so I live by Willy Wonka's credo, a little whimsy now and then is relished by the wisest men.

I started looking into setting up a not for profit charity today. In one day I learned that a non profit raises money for a charity, making no profit. A not for profit is allowed to raise money, pay salaries, and donate or perform a service. I think that's right, if it's not, it's all going to be in the wife's name, I'll miss her! The wife is the ideal person to be in a position like that, she is the premeir event planner in the Baltimore area, but it gets old raising money for people who don't appreciate it. It's time for her to do it for something that excites her, and she looks forward to doing it, all while having me tag along with her like Chewy to her Chelsea Lately!

Multiple Sclerosis, AFO Brace is Here, and Idiot Garden Plans

I picked up my new brace today, works pretty much like the old one, with the main difference being that the new one doesn't have an articulated ankle. I'm not sure what I think about it. The solid ankle makes it easier not to hyper extend the knee, and pivot, and easier walk down an incline. It also makes it harder to go up an incline, feels like the leg isn't seated in the brace, and has really flimsy little Velcro straps. I will have to wear it a few days to tell just what I think, and to see if I need any adjustments, I don't think I like the movement within the brace.

It's time to start up the idiot garden, 2009 edition. I am going to have 8 tub gardens, and I think 5 3 gallon bucket gardens. I am going to start my seeds tomorrow, including a 3 pepper blend, yellow, orange, and green. I'm also want to put some hot peppers in this year. I'm going to load up on heirloom tomatoes, they were awesome last year! We are putting in pickling cucumbers, have to make some of Slammer's garlic dill pickles this year. There will be zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant. I will have buckets of herbs, buckets of onions, and buckets of peas and green beans. There will be 2 kiddie swimming pools, one with salad greens, and one with potatoes.

I want to try some square foot gardening around the patio. I want to put some of the tubs and some of the 3 gallon buckets around the patio also. The corner of the patio is screaming for grapes! I'd love to plant some blueberries over by the clothes line, and a fig bush someplace in the back. I think we will do silver queen corn up at our CSA spot, maybe some melons. We also need to read up on how to store all of our bounty. We can freeze, we can can, and we can dry things. When I say we can can, I mean to put things up, not the dance! Our old neighbor is making some tubs, and he is setting up a bee hive again, so hopefully some honey is on the horizon. Now if I can talk the wife into rabbits, I will have a lean meat choice right in the back yard!

Neuro-Muscular Stimulator, AFO Brace, and an Unexpected Trip

We got some exciting news today! The father in law said he wanted to do something as a family. We have cook outs, we go out to dinner, was it time to go out to dinner? Well, yes, yes it is. The in laws always pay when we go out, they wouldn't even let us pay at the pancake dinner last night. OK, so it's dinner, where are we going? He thought the Bahamas would be nice. Whaaa? Yeah, he wants us all, 10 of us in total, to go on a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas out of Baltimore. I am speechless, and I only have 4 months to get into my jams!

I was outside today working on my vitamin D today, it was beautiful here. I washed the sheets and hung them out, the wife thought they were going to freeze. I asked her if they had raised to freeze temp up to 45, that's when she smacked me! The wife isn't much for outdoor activities, and I would live outside. The kids ask how we ever got together if we have so little in common. I always tell them it was because their mother was so sexy,that usually ends the conversation! I am going to sleep like a baby tonight, on my freeze dried sheets.

Yeah, I was a busy bee today. Laundry, cleaned up the yard a bit, crushed my aluminum cans, cooked dinner, and paid some bills, and yes, I'm exhausted! Why is it that I feel so good when I start, but it always ends up with tears? I need to figure out how to know when I about to have too much, and stop. Sounds like I'm talking about eating pie! The brace didn't help much either. Actually it did because without it, I would have been done after hanging out the sheets. That's why I'm so damn excited about this stim! If I am able to get some exercise, I am hoping to be able to do more each day, so what's not to be excited about?

Multiple Sclerosis, Church Dinner, New AFO, and Doctor REALLY Deciding Health Care

Big doins in Perry Hall tonight! We are heading off to Camp Chapel United Methodist for their pancake supper. We are taking the in-laws with us, and we are forcing the boy to leave the bowling alley and go with us too. We are trying to talk the in-laws into going to our church, theirs is a victim of the parishioner's age, and the decline of the area the church is in. It's tough for them, that has been their church probably 60 years, or close to it. We get to see a lot of people we know, a few I went to school with, but don't know who I am, it's fun. I strove for anonymity all through school, and by the number of people who don't remember me, I must have done it!

I went for the new brace yesterday, had the final fitting, and told the guy how it felt. The rep is going to adjust it, grind a bit here, shave a bit there, add a new kind of strap, and make it so it fits into my shoe. It felt good, less plastic wraps around the leg, so therefore less plastic to rub against the leg. This one doesn't have an articulated ankle, and sits 4 degrees forward, both to help prevent me from hyper extending the right knee, and to aid in the foot drop. It only had one strap, I asked them to add another "buckle" strap down at the ankle. All in all it should work nicely, but I am still hoping it doesn't get too much use.

The doc at physical therapy filled out the paperwork for the stim yesterday too. The whole place seems excited at the opportunity to work with a patient who has the stim, me! OK, I have nothing to do with it, but they are excited, they don't see many patients with the stim. I asked the doc why, she told me they don't recommend it to many patients because of the cost. Whaaa? That seems a bit strange that they would make that decision for people, and I told her just that. Is it a good tool, yes says she. Is it easy to work with, yes again. Would you recommend it to a family member, most definitely says she. I told her I'd kill for one, I'd kill her for one! Then I told her I was just kidding, I liked her, I'd kill her for nothing! Odd that they wouldn't offer it to everyone and let them decide if it was out of reach.