Lady with the Cane.com

This has been a weird, weird day. I felt great this morning. I got my son off to school, wrote a book review, answered a few e-mails, completed a couple of household chores, ate a little breakfast and finished my coffee.  After calling my mother on the phone I planned to get ready for exercise class. The sun is shining. It is 80 degrees outside. What a great day to be alive. And then it all went to pot. Literally. I have been slave to the porcelain throne all day and I haven't a clue why. I am not pinning this on MS. It is just too random (not that MS isn't often random) and... weird. So this has been a couch day and I apologize for a better blog post.  I will get back on it tomorrow. I hope. Lisa

This has been a weird, weird day. I felt great this morning. I got my son off to school, wrote a book review, answered a few e-mails, completed a couple of household chores, ate a little breakfast and finished my coffee.  After calling my mother on the phone I planned to get ready for exercise class. The sun is shining. It is 80 degrees outside. What a great day to be alive. And then it all went to pot. Literally. I have been slave to the porcelain throne all day and I haven't a clue why. I am not pinning this on MS. It is just too random (not that MS isn't often random) and... weird. So this has been a couch day and I apologize for a better blog post.  I will get back on it tomorrow. I hope. Lisa

Has it been an entire week?  I challenged you last week to commit random acts of kindness in order to earn your badge for the week. We do not need to verbalize our many acts of undeniable kindness because we are not competing for bragging rights. We are reaffirming our positive existence on the world and ourselves. Without purpose, we are empty. At least that is my philosophy and one that motivates me to move. So, congratulations for completing this challenge an earning your RAK badge. Hopefully you have also been the recipient of such acts so you know exactly the warm and fuzzy sensation of being on that end or the act. I like a good challenge and that is biggest reason I have taken on this badge activity. MS presents many challenges for us as Warriors and for out care givers. According to my handy dandy MS go-to book ( Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies ww.amazon.com/Multiple-Sclerosis-Dummies-Rosalind-Kalb/dp/1118175875?ie=UTF8&qid=1464088843&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&sr=1-1 ) w

Has it been an entire week?  I challenged you last week to commit random acts of kindness in order to earn your badge for the week. We do not need to verbalize our many acts of undeniable kindness because we are not competing for bragging rights. We are reaffirming our positive existence on the world and ourselves. Without purpose, we are empty. At least that is my philosophy and one that motivates me to move. So, congratulations for completing this challenge an earning your RAK badge. Hopefully you have also been the recipient of such acts so you know exactly the warm and fuzzy sensation of being on that end or the act. I like a good challenge and that is biggest reason I have taken on this badge activity. MS presents many challenges for us as Warriors and for out care givers. According to my handy dandy MS go-to book ( Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies ww.amazon.com/Multiple-Sclerosis-Dummies-Rosalind-Kalb/dp/1118175875?ie=UTF8&qid=1464088843&ref_=tmm_pap_swatch_0&

"Clinton and Trump are two of the most unpopular presidential candidates ever  to run in the US race for Commander-in-Chief." This is a direct quote from this morning's national news broadcast. According to national poles, these candidates barely hold 50% interest of their own political race. If we weren't alarmed before, the red flags should be flying high now. How do we elect a national leader when our choices are not even good ones? When The Donald initially made his announcement, I really enjoyed the debacle of him. His comments were (and are) ludicrous. His antics were (not now) humorous. He just added a really needed giggle to my morning. I really believe him to be a diversion tactic, but he is serious. Oops... Although I am a registered Democrat, Hillary never emitted such emotions from me. She just annoys me. The thought of listening to that voice for the next four years sends non-MS related chills up my spine. West Virginia (my home state) is suffering right

"Clinton and Trump are two of the most unpopular presidential candidates ever  to run in the US race for Commander-in-Chief." This is a direct quote from this morning's national news broadcast. According to national poles, these candidates barely hold 50% interest of their own political race. If we weren't alarmed before, the red flags should be flying high now. How do we elect a national leader when our choices are not even good ones? When The Donald initially made his announcement, I really enjoyed the debacle of him. His comments were (and are) ludicrous. His antics were (not now) humorous. He just added a really needed giggle to my morning. I really believe him to be a diversion tactic, but he is serious. Oops... Although I am a registered Democrat, Hillary never emitted such emotions from me. She just annoys me. The thought of listening to that voice for the next four years sends non-MS related chills up my spine. West Virginia (my home sta

So, yesterday I went shopping and met my bestest friend for lunch. My mother-in-law called prior to that to inform me that the girl I sent over the night before stole her purse. I assured her that the purse was in the house. I didn't bother addressing the mystery girl. I have no idea who that might be. I promised to check in later in the day. I must admit that I could not wait to get on my way. Shopping has never been a big interest to me, but I was anxious to get to the mall for a little retail therapy. I had my morning planned. I knew the location of every bathroom from one end of the mall to the other. I had my wheeled shopping cart with me and my cane. I was ready. And I got everything on my list; except the Steven Tyler country album that I thought was released this week. Anyone know when that blessed event will occur?  Since I couldn't treat myself to a little country music, I purchased a new pair of Sketchers instead. They were on sale and my old ones are a bit worn. (Th

So, yesterday I went shopping and met my bestest friend for lunch. My mother-in-law called prior to that to inform me that the girl I sent over the night before stole her purse. I assured her that the purse was in the house. I didn't bother addressing the mystery girl. I have no idea who that might be. I promised to check in later in the day. I must admit that I could not wait to get on my way. Shopping has never been a big interest to me, but I was anxious to get to the mall for a little retail therapy. I had my morning planned. I knew the location of every bathroom from one end of the mall to the other. I had my wheeled shopping cart with me and my cane. I was ready. And I got everything on my list; except the Steven Tyler country album that I thought was released this week. Anyone know when that blessed event will occur?  Since I couldn't treat myself to a little country music, I purchased a new pair of Sketchers instead. They were on sale and my old ones are a bit w

Oh, how I hate gong out in public sometimes. I plan my outings for days in advance.  Today I am meeting my bestie for a little shopping and a much anticipated lunch date. I know where I need to go in the mall and have carefully outline my route in my mind. First stop Bath and Body to replenish my empty supply of Wall Flowers and hand soap. Move on to Radio Shack to look for Father's Day gift.  Game Stop to pick up a game my son ordered. Last stop Marshall's just too look at anything affordable that I might need. And there is an easily accessible bathroom there. In fact, I think I will begin there and end there and hope that my bladder doesn't demand my attention any where in between. This is the inner dialogue required before I go out for the day. It all centers around the bathroom. If I do not know where I can readily "go", I do not go. And, because I must "go" right now, I am cheating today and allowing someone else to do my writing. Hope this article

Oh, how I hate gong out in public sometimes. I plan my outings for days in advance.  Today I am meeting my bestie for a little shopping and a much anticipated lunch date. I know where I need to go in the mall and have carefully outline my route in my mind. First stop Bath and Body to replenish my empty supply of Wall Flowers and hand soap. Move on to Radio Shack to look for Father's Day gift.  Game Stop to pick up a game my son ordered. Last stop Marshall's just too look at anything affordable that I might need. And there is an easily accessible bathroom there. In fact, I think I will begin there and end there and hope that my bladder doesn't demand my attention any where in between. This is the inner dialogue required before I go out for the day. It all centers around the bathroom. If I do not know where I can readily "go", I do not go. And, because I must "go" right now, I am cheating today and allowing someone else to do my writing. Hope th

I've been thinking a lot about attitude lately. Not just my own, but that of others. When I first fell ill (like the old folks say), there was much concern surrounding my situation. Because a diagnosis was not immediately confirmed, speculation grew as to the possibility of a stroke. It made sense. I could not walk; the entire right side of my face was drawn up; and my speech was severely impaired. Stroke fit the bill and was something people understood. People literally came out of the wood work to help my family. The few visitors I had while in the hospital brought a wealth of advice and suggestions about what to do when I got home. Their stories of advice only make me shudder now. Note to self: NEVER offer a hospitalized individual un-requested advice on ANY thing. 'Cause it is un-requested. Duh... But they meant well. Before being released from that first (and only, knock on wood) hospital stay, a stroke was checked off the possibility list and I silently exhaled a HUGE sig