I'm SOOOO excited, I can hardly stand it!! My mom came to me a couple of weeks ago, and asked about my pain level. I rolled my eyes, and told her she was well aware of my aches & pains.
She proceeded to tell me about 'The Wand', and told me I needed to try it. So, to humor her (good grief, I've already been exposed to every pill, potion, powder, voodoo charm, etc known to MAN!) I agreed to try it.
Within 4 minutes (LITERALLY!) of using the thing, the pain in my feet was GONE! Not only THAT, but I also got a tingling sensation in my toes that are numb!! OH, MY GOSH! I can VERY HONESTLY sit here and tell you, I have SEEN/HEARD it all when it comes to pain relief (I'm kind of an expert after so many years, ya know!) This is VERY LITERALLY the FIRST thing that has ever had any TOTAL PAIN RELIEF after just FOUR MINUTES!! The effects DID wear off about 1 1/2 hrs later, but MAN! I'm not EVEN kidding! It's the COOLEST thing I've ever seen/felt!! Where do I get my hands on one of these things to KEEP??
Today - I signed up to sell 'The Wand'...Now, I'm SOOO FREAKIN' LEARY of salespeople. I don't take that stuff lightly AT ALL, as I've been burned a few hundred times! So! You can trust me when I say that I would NOT be touchin' this thing with a 10-foot pole if I didn't see AMAZING PERSONAL results from it! If you're interested in more info, please drop me a note, and I'll get right back with ya. You WON'T be disappointed!
5/22/10
Day 5: Singin' In The Rain
Well, I didn't get around to posting yesterday. Whoops! My bad! It was raining, and everything was gloomy & yucky. I just didn't feel like it. Sorry!
Didn't sleep much again last night, but I DID get up and exercise. I might be a zombie today, but that's ok. I'm reading a book right now called "Day By Day with James Allen" by Vic Johnson. If you haven't read it, it's EXCELLENT! It's just a short, little 92-page job that includes "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen. But there's daily inspirational go-get-'em type messages in it. Very cool, in my opinion! I've had a lot going on in my life lately, though, and I think I'm really craving the self-help/build yourself up information.
Anyway, to be honest, yesterday sucked on about 100 levels for several reasons. But in thinking about it, all of those issues are still here today. Me being freaked out about it didn't change anything. It just made my family crazy that I was so ornery/miserable. Onward & upward! Today's a new day! Time to hit it!!
Didn't sleep much again last night, but I DID get up and exercise. I might be a zombie today, but that's ok. I'm reading a book right now called "Day By Day with James Allen" by Vic Johnson. If you haven't read it, it's EXCELLENT! It's just a short, little 92-page job that includes "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen. But there's daily inspirational go-get-'em type messages in it. Very cool, in my opinion! I've had a lot going on in my life lately, though, and I think I'm really craving the self-help/build yourself up information.
Anyway, to be honest, yesterday sucked on about 100 levels for several reasons. But in thinking about it, all of those issues are still here today. Me being freaked out about it didn't change anything. It just made my family crazy that I was so ornery/miserable. Onward & upward! Today's a new day! Time to hit it!!
5/20/10
Day 4: Body Image
I went swimming again today. I've never really worried about body image too much, as I know it can't be helped much in my case. My legs are quite twisted, my back is VERY crooked/hunched, gravity has taken over as I'm getting older...There's just not a lot there that's worth lookin' at.
I've never been overly comfortable in a swimming suit, though. But on the other hand, there's not much I can do about that, either. I LOVE swimming!! Water is a HUUUUUGE relief/down-time/relaxation for me.
For the first time today, I wasn't worried about how the suit was looking on me. In fact, I was actually kind of enjoying it. I still don't look GREAT in it, but as I've been working out and toning up, it's been getting loose - and that feels GREAT! :-) Why am I sooooo worried about my weight, when the rest of my body is trashed? I don't know! Maybe it's a 'girl thing'.
But I'm also finding that exercise has become a source of power for me. There are a bunch of people in my life who couldn't care less about their weight. I come from a long line of buffet-junkies - and most of them are unhealthy and it's hard for them to live/get around because of their weight. I do NOT want to have that life on top of everything else I have to deal with. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my family! It just really confuses me that they would CHOOSE to handicap themselves in that way. It makes me want to double MY efforts to show them if I can exercise and be healthy, they certainly can, too. It makes me want to send them all to one of my websites (http://becauseicandoit.com) for pointers! LOL Wouldn't THAT raise a few eyebrows!
I've never been overly comfortable in a swimming suit, though. But on the other hand, there's not much I can do about that, either. I LOVE swimming!! Water is a HUUUUUGE relief/down-time/relaxation for me.
For the first time today, I wasn't worried about how the suit was looking on me. In fact, I was actually kind of enjoying it. I still don't look GREAT in it, but as I've been working out and toning up, it's been getting loose - and that feels GREAT! :-) Why am I sooooo worried about my weight, when the rest of my body is trashed? I don't know! Maybe it's a 'girl thing'.
But I'm also finding that exercise has become a source of power for me. There are a bunch of people in my life who couldn't care less about their weight. I come from a long line of buffet-junkies - and most of them are unhealthy and it's hard for them to live/get around because of their weight. I do NOT want to have that life on top of everything else I have to deal with. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my family! It just really confuses me that they would CHOOSE to handicap themselves in that way. It makes me want to double MY efforts to show them if I can exercise and be healthy, they certainly can, too. It makes me want to send them all to one of my websites (http://becauseicandoit.com) for pointers! LOL Wouldn't THAT raise a few eyebrows!
5/19/10
Day 3: Zippy Chicky & Rice
Today's thoughts are all about eating wheat-free and cooking. I haven't always had this wheat allergy, and I DON'T have Celiac's Disease. I'm allergic to the starch part of wheat, where people with Celiac's are allergic to gluten (protein part). Confused yet? Don't worry, it took me a while to 'get it', too. To me, wheat is wheat. I just stay away from ANYTHING with that word. Better safe than sorry.
I discovered my allergy (which, again, is life-threatening) about four years ago. Before that, I was a Convenience Cook! If it didn't come in a box, bag, or can, I didn't want anything to do with it! So, I'm pretty sure at this point that the whole 'allergy thing' is God's way of saying, "You WILL cook, Woman!"
Ok! Ok! I'll cook! Just don't expect me to love it!...Well, except for today, maybe...My family's been herniating over the fact that we eat the same things 'all the time'! So, I got creative and came up with the following concoction that actually turned out pretty good! (There's a first! LOL). I think I'll call it Zippy Chicky.
My kids are kind of funny - if the food doesn't have a name, they won't eat it. Does anyone else have that problem with their kids? Makes me CRAZY! Who CARES what it's called, as long as it tastes good, right?? But, I think they'll like this recipe, and I've decided to share it here, 'cause it can be done' at YOUR house, just as easy as mine :-). Please let me know if you try it and if it was a hit or not at your house. Here goes...
Zippy Chicky
2 LBS boneless chicken, cubed
2 TB olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tea powdered ginger
1/2 tea crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 C. water
1/3 C. sugar (I used white, but brown would be AWESOME, I think!)
2 TB GF (Gluten free) barbecue sauce
1 TB GF vinegar
3 TB GF soy sauce
3 TB fish sauce
1-2 TB key lime juice
cooked rice (or quinoa, pasta, whatever...)
Cook chicken in oil until done, then set aside. Mix other ingredients all together and bring to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Simmer sauce for 20 minutes. Add chicken. Either cook 5 minutes or add chicken and marinate for an hour in the fridge. Then, just reheat, thicken if you want to, and serve over rice.
I would LOVE to have a picture of this, but (and I wish I was joking about this!) my dog gnawed on my digital camera and broke it! Apparently, he was getting tired of his dog food! UGH! The compartment for the batteries is completely gone! Including the batteries! I'm no vet, but I'm pretty sure that battery acid isn't good for doggy digestion. I hope those batteries are around here somewhere! Actually, it was over a week ago (thought I better mention that so PETA-type folks don't freak out). He's still kickin', but if he runs out of juice, maybe I'll throw him on a charger and see if that helps...JUST KIDDING! :-D
So, hang in there with me. If I can round up another camera, I'll take a picture and post it. I have a camera phone, but those pics turn out pretty lousy. But, again, I'll look around and see if I can't find something else to use. Thanks for stopping by today! Buon Appetite!
I discovered my allergy (which, again, is life-threatening) about four years ago. Before that, I was a Convenience Cook! If it didn't come in a box, bag, or can, I didn't want anything to do with it! So, I'm pretty sure at this point that the whole 'allergy thing' is God's way of saying, "You WILL cook, Woman!"
Ok! Ok! I'll cook! Just don't expect me to love it!...Well, except for today, maybe...My family's been herniating over the fact that we eat the same things 'all the time'! So, I got creative and came up with the following concoction that actually turned out pretty good! (There's a first! LOL). I think I'll call it Zippy Chicky.
My kids are kind of funny - if the food doesn't have a name, they won't eat it. Does anyone else have that problem with their kids? Makes me CRAZY! Who CARES what it's called, as long as it tastes good, right?? But, I think they'll like this recipe, and I've decided to share it here, 'cause it can be done' at YOUR house, just as easy as mine :-). Please let me know if you try it and if it was a hit or not at your house. Here goes...
Zippy Chicky
2 LBS boneless chicken, cubed
2 TB olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tea powdered ginger
1/2 tea crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 C. water
1/3 C. sugar (I used white, but brown would be AWESOME, I think!)
2 TB GF (Gluten free) barbecue sauce
1 TB GF vinegar
3 TB GF soy sauce
3 TB fish sauce
1-2 TB key lime juice
cooked rice (or quinoa, pasta, whatever...)
Cook chicken in oil until done, then set aside. Mix other ingredients all together and bring to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Simmer sauce for 20 minutes. Add chicken. Either cook 5 minutes or add chicken and marinate for an hour in the fridge. Then, just reheat, thicken if you want to, and serve over rice.
I would LOVE to have a picture of this, but (and I wish I was joking about this!) my dog gnawed on my digital camera and broke it! Apparently, he was getting tired of his dog food! UGH! The compartment for the batteries is completely gone! Including the batteries! I'm no vet, but I'm pretty sure that battery acid isn't good for doggy digestion. I hope those batteries are around here somewhere! Actually, it was over a week ago (thought I better mention that so PETA-type folks don't freak out). He's still kickin', but if he runs out of juice, maybe I'll throw him on a charger and see if that helps...JUST KIDDING! :-D
So, hang in there with me. If I can round up another camera, I'll take a picture and post it. I have a camera phone, but those pics turn out pretty lousy. But, again, I'll look around and see if I can't find something else to use. Thanks for stopping by today! Buon Appetite!
5/18/10
Day 2: Continued
Well, I decided that talking about yesterday's events really didn't cover TODAY'S news, so here is today in a nutshell...
It's been raining today. I have very mixed emotions about rain. At the forefront of my mind is the pain that it causes me. I have arthritis in my back and feet, so every time the barometric pressure changes (goes from sunny to stormy or vise versa) the arthritis hits and I'm down for the count.
Because I'm generally in so much pain, my emotions take a hit, too. It REALLY, REALLY frustrates me to have to stop my life and sit things out until the weather clears up! I'm afraid I'm not a very nice patient in that regard.
So, today, I'm laying in bed working on my websites and thinking of all the things I'd like to see happen with this blog. There's the obvious concerns, of course - Will anybody take time to actually read this thing, or is it just a waste of time? Will the information I provide through it make any difference? People stop to ask me about my circumstances all the time, but do they really care? I guess only time will be able to answer those questions.
I would LOVE to get up to 100 followers (or more!) a month through the blog. Even if only one person out of all those people took the information to heart and began to see a person with disabilities as a person, and not some kind of side-show freak to be stared at, then my time and efforts would be well spent.
Today, I'm grateful for the rain. Aside from having the necessary water for drinking, washing, and upcoming summer events, it's also given me the personal time I needed to continue building the foundations for this blog. It is truly one of my missions in life to educate and make people aware of what goes on behind the wheelchair, crutches, blind person's cane, deaf person's hearing aid, or simply the face that can be seen with the eyes, but doesn't seem to be 'all there'. We may all wear different shoes, but we're all on the same path that leads toward friendship, love, peace, and acceptance.
It's been raining today. I have very mixed emotions about rain. At the forefront of my mind is the pain that it causes me. I have arthritis in my back and feet, so every time the barometric pressure changes (goes from sunny to stormy or vise versa) the arthritis hits and I'm down for the count.
Because I'm generally in so much pain, my emotions take a hit, too. It REALLY, REALLY frustrates me to have to stop my life and sit things out until the weather clears up! I'm afraid I'm not a very nice patient in that regard.
So, today, I'm laying in bed working on my websites and thinking of all the things I'd like to see happen with this blog. There's the obvious concerns, of course - Will anybody take time to actually read this thing, or is it just a waste of time? Will the information I provide through it make any difference? People stop to ask me about my circumstances all the time, but do they really care? I guess only time will be able to answer those questions.
I would LOVE to get up to 100 followers (or more!) a month through the blog. Even if only one person out of all those people took the information to heart and began to see a person with disabilities as a person, and not some kind of side-show freak to be stared at, then my time and efforts would be well spent.
Today, I'm grateful for the rain. Aside from having the necessary water for drinking, washing, and upcoming summer events, it's also given me the personal time I needed to continue building the foundations for this blog. It is truly one of my missions in life to educate and make people aware of what goes on behind the wheelchair, crutches, blind person's cane, deaf person's hearing aid, or simply the face that can be seen with the eyes, but doesn't seem to be 'all there'. We may all wear different shoes, but we're all on the same path that leads toward friendship, love, peace, and acceptance.
Day 2: Fun At The Rec Center
Went swimming at the Rec Center with the kids last night. We started off walking on the track. I walked one mile - VERY discouraging when I think about having to walk 3 miles in August. But! I've got to start somewhere, right? 6 times around the track = 1 mile. If I add one lap every other day, I can start working on incline walking. That will be good!
After the walk, we hit the pool. I've just started swimming again, too. Can I just say - I LOVE the water! I don't have to worry about keeping my balance or stubbing my toes. No little kids are staring at my crutches. Nobody is asking me "what's wrong?" Under the water, no one can even TELL that my legs are 'different'.
Right now, I can do 800 meters. Sure sounds like a lot, but it's only 1/2 a mile. I tried swimming laps last night, but there were SO many people there! So, I ended up doing push-ups on the side of the pool (under the lifeguard station! LOL) and then just holding onto the side and kicking my legs.
I did spend some time in the jacuzzi after that. There was a group of guys there, and each had some kind of mental something going on. They were accompanied by a couple of counselor/caregiver-type people.
So I sat down in the jacuzzi next to one of the guys. He looked over at me, and his eyes got REALLY wide! Then he sucked in his breath, and was biting down on his lips. Poor guy looked like he was going to pop! LOL Then he kept looking over at me and giggling. It was SO cute! I was crackin' up!
Now, I'm not pretty. Heck, by today's standards, I'm not even CUTE! So, to be flattered that I had caused that kind of reaction from someone seems a little anti-climactic. But, it happened, and it was fun for me. Even more meaningful was that it came from someone like that. "Normal" guys have social rules to live by. They've been taught how/what/when to say the perfect thing to a girl. Kind of sad, actually. People spend so much time trying to look good, that it takes that much longer to get to know them.
But, someone with mental issues oftentimes doesn't have those boundaries. They say/do whatever comes to mind. Well, ok - except when they're nervous, I guess! LOL (Maybe being nervous around someone of the opposite sex is an instinct kind of thing, instead of something that's taught?) But, one gets to hear them at 100%, and it's a beautiful thing.
I'm grateful for that experience, because he made me FEEL pretty, and I needed that last night.
After the walk, we hit the pool. I've just started swimming again, too. Can I just say - I LOVE the water! I don't have to worry about keeping my balance or stubbing my toes. No little kids are staring at my crutches. Nobody is asking me "what's wrong?" Under the water, no one can even TELL that my legs are 'different'.
Right now, I can do 800 meters. Sure sounds like a lot, but it's only 1/2 a mile. I tried swimming laps last night, but there were SO many people there! So, I ended up doing push-ups on the side of the pool (under the lifeguard station! LOL) and then just holding onto the side and kicking my legs.
I did spend some time in the jacuzzi after that. There was a group of guys there, and each had some kind of mental something going on. They were accompanied by a couple of counselor/caregiver-type people.
So I sat down in the jacuzzi next to one of the guys. He looked over at me, and his eyes got REALLY wide! Then he sucked in his breath, and was biting down on his lips. Poor guy looked like he was going to pop! LOL Then he kept looking over at me and giggling. It was SO cute! I was crackin' up!
Now, I'm not pretty. Heck, by today's standards, I'm not even CUTE! So, to be flattered that I had caused that kind of reaction from someone seems a little anti-climactic. But, it happened, and it was fun for me. Even more meaningful was that it came from someone like that. "Normal" guys have social rules to live by. They've been taught how/what/when to say the perfect thing to a girl. Kind of sad, actually. People spend so much time trying to look good, that it takes that much longer to get to know them.
But, someone with mental issues oftentimes doesn't have those boundaries. They say/do whatever comes to mind. Well, ok - except when they're nervous, I guess! LOL (Maybe being nervous around someone of the opposite sex is an instinct kind of thing, instead of something that's taught?) But, one gets to hear them at 100%, and it's a beautiful thing.
I'm grateful for that experience, because he made me FEEL pretty, and I needed that last night.
5/17/10
Day 1: Let's get this party started!
My morning typically starts at 5:30. Because my body apparently has an aversion to sleeping, I was up at 2:30 this morning. Wide awake with nothing to do. I hate that! LOL But, it happens ALL THE TIME!
So, since my other half and my three little rugrats were still asleep, I went out to the family room and watched Netflix. Ever tried them? It's actually a pretty cool little set up. Lots of great movies to watch, but they DO have their fair share of B Movies & other shows that have NO ratings (most of which should have X, in my opinion! UGH!)
Since I'm on such a specific diet, I ate left-over roast in a corn tortilla for breakfast. Then, started my exercises. I'm planning on hiking to Timp Cave here in Utah on Aug 14th of this year. Although I've been working out every day, I still have a LOT to do to get ready for it. It's a 3 mile round trip - half of which is obviously uphill.
Everybody and their dog keeps telling me how nasty the hike is. My opinion? It's PERFECT! I LOVE proving people wrong! Not that I have this giant urge to be RIGHT all of the time, but because I love proving that impossibilities only exist if one allows them to.
A friend recently suggested that I enter into the Olympics as a hand-cyclist. Not for me (at this point) I'm afraid. I just don't need to be better than someone else. My big, burning need is to be better tomorrow than I am today - for me. To prove to MYSELF that it can be done. I'm a firm believer that "people who don't think it can be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it."
So, since my other half and my three little rugrats were still asleep, I went out to the family room and watched Netflix. Ever tried them? It's actually a pretty cool little set up. Lots of great movies to watch, but they DO have their fair share of B Movies & other shows that have NO ratings (most of which should have X, in my opinion! UGH!)
Since I'm on such a specific diet, I ate left-over roast in a corn tortilla for breakfast. Then, started my exercises. I'm planning on hiking to Timp Cave here in Utah on Aug 14th of this year. Although I've been working out every day, I still have a LOT to do to get ready for it. It's a 3 mile round trip - half of which is obviously uphill.
Everybody and their dog keeps telling me how nasty the hike is. My opinion? It's PERFECT! I LOVE proving people wrong! Not that I have this giant urge to be RIGHT all of the time, but because I love proving that impossibilities only exist if one allows them to.
A friend recently suggested that I enter into the Olympics as a hand-cyclist. Not for me (at this point) I'm afraid. I just don't need to be better than someone else. My big, burning need is to be better tomorrow than I am today - for me. To prove to MYSELF that it can be done. I'm a firm believer that "people who don't think it can be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it."
Welcome to my world
People are always asking me "How do you DO that?" The long answer involves a lengthy discussion on Tethered Cord Syndrome/Hydrocephalus which is basically a fancy, doctor-ish way of saying that my feet don't work like other 'normal' feet, and the fluid in my brain doesn't circulate on it's own, so I have a tube that runs from my head to my stomach that drains it for me.
Oh, and let's not forget the wheat allergy. Quite frankly, that's the biggest headache of all, because I have to be so stinkin' careful about what goes in my mouth. Otherwise, I get boat-loaded with a steroid, (Prednisone), caffeine, and Epinephrine to keep me alive.
But the short answer? The one that 'packs more punch', more 'bang for the buck' is simply 'The how's don't really matter. What matters is that it gets done, 'cause it can be done.'
For the next 365 days (give or take a day or two for Medical Leave...), I'll be sharing insights into the world of 'disability'. For the life of me, I can't figure out why ANYONE would care, but I'm getting questions (from total strangers!) about my handicap often enough that it MUST be interesting to people. Whatever floats your boat, Cap'n! If you have any specific questions, fire away, and I'll do my best to answer them.
I can't promise you that EVERY day is going to be a 'bowl of cherries' (or a 'Chair of Bowlies' as Mary Engelbreit would say). But, maybe that's the biggest point I want to make with this endeavor. Not all handicapped people are angels or devils. We're just plain ol' people like everyone else. We all have different abilities, goals, and dreams. The point is to keep going, keep trying. No matter what our ability level is, what we think we can or can't do - to just do it anyway, 'cause it can be done.
Oh, and let's not forget the wheat allergy. Quite frankly, that's the biggest headache of all, because I have to be so stinkin' careful about what goes in my mouth. Otherwise, I get boat-loaded with a steroid, (Prednisone), caffeine, and Epinephrine to keep me alive.
But the short answer? The one that 'packs more punch', more 'bang for the buck' is simply 'The how's don't really matter. What matters is that it gets done, 'cause it can be done.'
For the next 365 days (give or take a day or two for Medical Leave...), I'll be sharing insights into the world of 'disability'. For the life of me, I can't figure out why ANYONE would care, but I'm getting questions (from total strangers!) about my handicap often enough that it MUST be interesting to people. Whatever floats your boat, Cap'n! If you have any specific questions, fire away, and I'll do my best to answer them.
I can't promise you that EVERY day is going to be a 'bowl of cherries' (or a 'Chair of Bowlies' as Mary Engelbreit would say). But, maybe that's the biggest point I want to make with this endeavor. Not all handicapped people are angels or devils. We're just plain ol' people like everyone else. We all have different abilities, goals, and dreams. The point is to keep going, keep trying. No matter what our ability level is, what we think we can or can't do - to just do it anyway, 'cause it can be done.
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