I Feel Great!! I Can Conquer the World!! Wait, Can I Do It Tomorrow?

I hate MS. I loathe it. Give this calm, peace loving gal a chance in a gym with MS in a punching bag and I would beat the shit out of it. Or at least I would try. I'd get a few good jabs in there before I got tired.

I have the best intentions in the world. But you know what they say about good intentions....

I feel like every day I make a promise to myself: tomorrow I'm gonna work out and blog. Or, tomorrow I'm gonna clean the house and maybe clean out that closet. Maybe even the ambitious: tomorrow I'm going to actually go visit friends in the "real world" rather than post something on their Facebook page letting them know that I am in fact still alive and really do love them and care about them. Then "tomorrow" comes. I end up watching my Netflix movie and I'm lucky if I paint my toenails.

I shouldn't bitch. I'm feeling really good. I just hate being so damn tired.

Okay, enough bellyaching. What have I been up to, you ask? You are all so kind! I've been busy working. It's going really well. It's hard, at times, to get my butt up and get in, but I'm lucky that I only work part time and they are really good with letting me call out if I'm not feeling well.

Like last week. I got my flu shot and was expecting to get the flu. In true Allison fashion, I did something unexpected and got the cold from hell instead. A week of walking around with tissues stuck up my nose looking like some freaky tissue walrus. My nose is just now healing from the peeling that it did. Eek.

Before that, I had gotten my hair cut. I love it. It's sooo nice to not spend half an hour under a hot blow-dryer every morning drying my thick hair (no bueno for people with no heat tolerance, ya know?). One co-worker said I looked like Kate Gosselin, but all my other co-workers, as well as my family and friends, assured me that I do not. I think she might have thought she was complimenting me in her own strange way. She is a strange one. I have posted a pic so you can decide for yourself. Strangely enough, when did I get hit on? Not when my hair was long and all done. Not when it's short and done, but the other day when it was 97*, AGAIN, and I had my hair wet and down, looking a mess, old clothes and Converse, walking from my car to the store. Some strange man yelled "You are beautiful!", not once, but TWICE!! Apparently, that's what I have to do to get hit on? I should write a book. The way to get hit that you would NEVER believe. Seriously. Who would've thunk it?

Other than that, not much else is new. I have to go to the podiatrist to see what they can do about my plantar fasciitis. Don't get old, kids. It's not for wimps!

I have to decide what to dress Sid up as for Halloween. Yay for dressing up your poor loving doggy!! I will consider your suggestions, but ultimately buy whatever I think he'd look cutest in. I'm thinking along the lines of the Cowardly Lion.

I leave you with a beautiful picture/quote. Enjoy!!!

Portrait of the Author as an Exhausted Girl

 Which is what I always am. Except I am 33 now, I guess I am officially a "woman". That just sounds so old! Even though I am always exhausted, I still feel young. Does that make any sense? I hope so. I've been so busy. And tired. Just the normal MS tired on top of working, and the preparations and then celebrations of my Nana's 90th birthday. She puts me to shame. She has 57 years on me and that woman has twice as much energy as I do! I love her dearly and the party was a TON of fun. Lots of family members were able to make it and she really enjoyed it. She decided instead of turning "29" again, she'll finally be "39". She said she has to stay a little older than her grandchildren. Below is a picture of (from left to right clockwise) my mom, my brother, my dad, my Nana and me.

Forget about having my Nana's energy at 90, I just hope I have half of it at 50!

Everything has been going really well. I've obviously been too busy to blog lately. Work is good, but sometimes I feel like I'm too good at my job. I need to adopt the attitude like some others and just say, "I don't know how to do that and I cannot possibly learn how to.". Or they have the attitude that can't do anything other than 2 things that are specific to their job. "You want me to open the mail? I don't couldn't possibly, I don't know how." Since I have a fairly intelligent brain (even on Topamax), and I know how to do a lot of things there, I get stuck covering for a lot of people who call out sick. But, at the end of the day, I am part time and they do let me call out sick and just basically work whenever it's convenient for me, so I am lucky in that aspect.

Health wise, I'm pretty good. I say pretty good because I've really been slacking on my working out. It's also been pretty hot here, in the 90's this week, and that just wipes me out. Damn you sun! Don't you know that I don't like the heat!! I had a week off from my Rebif, thanks to my insurance wanting a prior authorization on it and that delayed it. It's okay by me though because that's fewer bruises on my body. And since it's so hot, tank tops and shorts are required, so that's a good thing!

I've also been trying to read up on supplements in my spare time. Does anyone have any suggestions on what they take, what helps? I have been having pain in my hips. It's in the front of my hips where my hip meets my thigh. It seems to be a muscle pain, but it could be a joint pain. Does anyone else get that? I've had it before...

Here's hoping that that the heat will cool off soon. Then maybe I can leave my air conditioned apartment and have an exciting blog for you! In the meantime, the UPS guy is supposed to deliver my Rebif today. Fingers crossed that it's the old guy, the cute one! I don't know if he quit or switched routes or what; but I haven't seen him in forever. My co-worker nicknamed him Thor after I described what he looked like to her. He does look like Thor from The Avengers. But he's a bit older and has short hair. I miss him delivering my shots. Fingers crossed!!!

Not Much Ever Happens In My Boring Life...

Or does it....?

Haha. I guess it's actually extremely boring to the average Joe, but to me, it seems like I'm Sisyphus; forever pushing that damn rock up a hill only to have it roll back down.

Whatevs.

So, I turned 33. Or, as I like to say, 29 for the fourth time. Yay!! Go me! I had an awesome party with one of my nearest and dearest friends, Steph. My fellow Gemini who had the grace to be born two days before me. Thanks for always being older my friend! It was awesome and chill. Down in Newport Beach and some of my favorite friends who I haven't seen in a long time were able to make it out. I did have to leave after we headed to the first bar, but that's the life with MS. The party started at 3:00, I can't last until the bars close like some of my friends. But that's okay. One Corona was okay for me.

Unfortunately, I did get a cold. Damn you, California June gloom! I kid. We have amazing weather and I know it! But it can go from warm to chilly pretty quickly at the beach and that tends to give me a cold.

Then I got a sclera hemorrhage. It was not pretty. Thankfully, it didn't hurt. It just scared the bejesus out of me. When you wake up and wash your face in the morning and it looks like you broke your eye:

scary, huh? It's freaking terrifying to wake up to. But, it's just like a bruise and heals on its own. It's almost completely gone. I just feel like I already have enough problems. Don't bleed, eye!!!

My Sid is all better. Still up and down the stairs like a pro. I took in my cousin's cats because she had to move and couldn't take them with her. It's been a little scary for my baby cat, Nibbler, because of that, but otherwise things are cool. Here's two things that I like:

I'll keep trying... 

But usually, I wake up and feel like this:

and why should I get out of them? Maybe it was a bad batch of Rebif. Maybe it's depression over getting older. Maybe it's because I'm a Gemini and I swing between two personalities all the time anyways. I'm fine. My blog is where I bitch. When we get sick, it seem like we have to be the strong ones for those around us. And only others who are sick can listen to us bitch and fully understand.

Until next time, dear readers, carpe the hell out this diem. ;-)

Just When She Thought Things Were Looking Up... Allison's Week Said, "No Way. You Are A Walking Murphy's Law. Don't Forget It."

Okay. So that was a leetle bit dramatic, I'll admit. But really. Can't I have one Super Awesome Week?
Just one? So, good news first. My triglycerides are down to 373. Which isn't normal yet, they should be less than 150. But they were 793, so that's still pretty darn awesome. Also, the Rebif is working! Hallelujah! No new lesions, and the ones I do have, have barely grown! Again, awesome.

 There's what my brain looks like folks, lesions and all. But, they aren't growing. Can I get an Amen?

So, week was going great. Truth be told, that's still awesome news. But then, duh duh duh.... Sid fell down the bottom two stairs. My poor baby had to have a splint on his puppy ankle. Which lasted about a day, because Allison cannot carry 30 pounds of Sid up and down the stairs. My back. My neck and my back!!

Don't worry dear readers, Sid's okay. My back's okay too. :) I'm just looking forward to a week of rest. I should be careful though. Last time I got that, I was in the hospital. Let's just say, I look forward to an uneventful week. Better? Please? Pretty, pretty please?

My birthday is on the 1st of June, so if I don't blog, it's because I'm ringing in being 29 for the fourth time. ;-)

Happy Tuesday to you all!!!

My Stairway to Heaven... the Bathroom and the Bedroom....

I have been loving it in my apartment. L-O-V-I-N-G it! The best I've had, since I lived in a house! The best new neighbors too. They've even come over with a flower to welcome us. They are so nice. Sid and I really lucked out. No more being woken up by some crazy biatch deciding to clean at 2 am.

That being said... I have still not been blogging as often, and here's why:

stairs. My natural enemy... They are tiring my MS butt out. I go downstairs in the morning to let Sid out; make sure I have everything I needed to take downstairs. Go back up after eating breakfast; take anything I need upstairs with me. Now, I'm upstairs. Oops, forgot my phone downstairs. Another trek. No, Sid, stay.... I'll be right back..... 


And so on and so on. You can tell by the end of the night that we're pooped because he'll automatically sit at the top of stairs and wait for me. Good thing I bought a baby gate for my little shadow. His little legs give out before mine do.


I've been a little bit too pooped to get to blogging, truth be told. But overall, I'm happier than I've been in years. So that's alright, isn't it, dear followers? (I'm kinda paraphrasing Stephen King) If I'm not blogging, better that it be because I've been happy and enjoying my new place rather than being sick, eh? Another positive is that my legs are getting super buff! And I think even Sid has lost a pound or two. (He's my chunky monkey, so he needed it...) Haha.


I go in today for my yearly MRI of the brain. Finally, right? Let us see if I light it up like a Christmas tree in there or if there aren't too many lesions (fingers AND toes crossed!)

I found this picture online and thought it was a prettier image of a brain lighting up than a lesioned brain. Oops, I had spelled "bran" rather than "brain". I hope that's the Topamax and not the damn lesions....


Happy Tuesday to you all. May it find you in great health, lesions or not. Stairs or no stairs. Keep kicking some serious ass, people. I'll leave you with a quote I found and liked. 



“The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps - we must step up the stairs.”
 Vance Havner quotes 

Long Time No Post... Sorry About That....

I've had no Internet for 2 weeks! The horror!!

But seriously, it sucked. I tried to post from my phone; I have no idea where it went. Into the wild oblivion of the Internet, apparently. So, where did I leave off? No idea. I just start off where I want... Deal? Okay, thankyouverymuchyouaretookind. ;-)

The move went well. I LOVE MY NEW PLACE!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! But really, that's been fun, trying to find new spots where everything should go. Figure out the flow of the new place. The new place with a washer and dryer! Heaven!!

But it is all worth it. I have had the best sleep in this new place. It's been a year almost since I've had such a nice PEACEFUL rest. Yes, the MS still sucks, but I have NO ANNOYING upstairs neighbor waking me up every two hours. The unbridled joy!!! I feel human again. I don't want to bite stranger's heads off. So nice!


With the move and the job and everything, I've been running around around like this:

(P.S., I love the Internet. So easy to access pics of how you feel. It's awesome. So glad I have it back!) But I don't really mind, because I've been able to SLEEP!! Yay sleep!! Oh how I love thee!

I've also been dealing with my Neurologist's office. The office staff sucks lately. Since December, I've been trying to get my MRI approved to the place I've been going for the last SEVEN years and they had me going somewhere else. It's finally fixed (knock on wood) and I have an appointment with them on the 15th of May, after my MRI at the correct place. I still haven't gotten that wisdom tooth pulled. Yep. I move a little bit faster than these two:

but only a little.

Good night dear readers. Now that I have the internet again, my blogging should be back to normal. Have a wonderful week!!!

Well, At Least I'll Get to Catch Up on My Netflix Movies...

I was having a problem with my right eye twitching earlier, so the plan was to just watch movies today. I looked it up, it's either Blepharospasm or fasciculations (small twitches). I've had eye twitching before- hell, everything on me twitches at some point during the day, but with starting the new job and the move and packing, I'm taking it easy. But, as I was busy trying to set up my mobile blogger account, it got better. So... YAY!! Hope it stays that way. Let us pray it looks like this again:

Okay, I never do my makeup like that unless I'm going out. And I never really go out. And no, that's not MY eye, but my eyes ARE green, so I felt it was well within my rights to post a non-twitching pretty eye. Oh, and I'm still working on the mobile blogger thingy. If I ever post some weird blog post that's just a sentence, please forgive me. I'm trying to get the hang of it. I did this on my actual computer.

I'll still take it fairly easy today I do have The Muppets, My Week With Marilyn and London Boulevard to watch. I'll only pack if I feel up to it. Less than a week and than I'll get to catch up on my sleep without those awful upstairs neighbors!! I'm counting down the days!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Busy Little Worker Bee- That's What I Am!!

Hello Readers!!

Sorry, for the long times between posts. I've been so busy with the new job (which is AWESOME!), and the move (which sucks, but will be better once I'm in my new place on the 30th), and just generally having MS and being fatigued.

So, first things first! The job! It's wonderful to be out around adults again. And supplementing my income helps A TON!! I'm also blessed that it's my old job (different office, but I know them), so they are SUPER accommodating with me if I'm feeling tired or anything. I'm just a file clerk (pulling prescriptions, faxing) so it's a rolling hours type thing. I'm just there to help the other girls. And since I was a Front Office girl when I was diagnosed with MS, I know my way around the office. Funny story though, their newfangled fax/scanner/copier really had me confused. I definitely had to ask for help on that!

The move is going surely but surely. I can only do so much a day, so it's lucky that I've had time to pack and get ready. But, as I'm sure you know, I get tired REALLY quickly. But overall, I feel really good. I've been on Nuvigil for the fatigue. It was a pain to get it approved, but it has helped SO MUCH!! I was allergic to Amantadine, so I had to try something else. I've also been taking B-12, Chlorella, and N-Acetyl Glucosamine supplements. Is that helping? It hasn't hurt. Dr. Oz said Chlorella helps with brain fog. God knows I have that. I also was diagnosed early and have been on Rebif for 7 years now. There's studies that the earlier you're diagnosed, the better, because you get on the meds sooner. Here's the link where I read that:
http://www.edinformatics.com/biotechnology/multiple_sclerosis.htm

Once this move is done, I'll be able to blog more. I hope everyone is doing well!!
Oh, and P.S., I aleady saw one of the sales reps I had a crush on when I used to work. He's married now, with kids, but it gives me hope!!

I have to post this photo, it sums up how I feel most of the time.

Moving Apartments Sucks!!!

Yep, I said it. I'll say it again: it SUCKS!!

Ugh. Thanks. I needed that. Due to crappy people above me, I am not only starting a new job, I am looking for a new apartment. So, quick post, because I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Let us hope the above picture proves to be true.

The job is going well. It's really nice to be back among people. Not that I didn't love being at home with my dog watching Law and Order: SVU marathons. But it's nice to have someone answer in words.

Sorry for the short post. Hi ho, hi ho, back to apartment hunting and packing I go!!!

And if anyone sees a single story two bedroom apartment for rent in Orange County, CA, let me know! :)

I Told Ya 2012 Was Gonna Be My Year!

Okey-dokey, I have good news! Starting on Tuesday ...

I am going back to work part-time!

Yay! Go me! I will be working at my old place of employment, as a file clerk. They know all about the MS, so it wasn't a problem for me as far as letting them know I was sick. They were there and stood by me when I was diagnosed. It's a medical office. They know what MS is. It's a nice, easy, no-stress job and it's only part-time. Different from what I originally did there, which is way too stressful for me to go back to, but still among the amazing people I used to work with.

I'm so excited, I can't even tell you! I've been out of the medical field for awhile now, but next week, I'll be rocking these again:

Beautiful scrubs. I had to go buy new ones. Thanks Topamax for the lost poundage. That was a cool side effect that I appreciate.

It's so surreal to me that I'm going back. When I was diagnosed and tried to go back about a month or two later; I was so sick, I just couldn't do it. Finally, seven years later, I am finally feeling halfway back to normal. Which is awesome for anyone with Multiple Sclerosis. I think this is a great thing too because it will get me out of the house. If you have a job to go to, you spend your time more effectively. Instead of watching Teen Mom 2 marathons all day, maybe I'll get at least one chore done.

So, if the blogs slow down, you at least know why. I aim to keep them up, but I don't like to make promises I can't keep. I will still blog, it just may be less frequently. Then again, maybe they'll pick up.

And hey, who knows, maybe I'll meet a cute sales rep and have something fun to tell you! Keep your fingers crossed!

Finding My Balance Again

First things first- yes, I have annoyingly changed the name of my blog. AGAIN! I'm a Gemini and obviously very indecisive. I pretty much changed it back to what it was originally, but with the addition of my name so it starts with an "A". The "A" also stands for "AWESOME"!!!  And, I admit, this keeps it apart from all the other blogs about Multiple Sclerosis that start with an "M". Tune in next week folks to see what else I change my mind about. Will it be the name of my blog (probably not since I just did that), will I become a  blonde (I kinda doubt it, but never say never), or will I just change the color of my toenail polish (if you're the betting kind- I'd choose that one).
I also joined Google +. What does that mean? As soon as I figure out what on Earth I'm doing on there and how to use it- I'll let you know.

Now onto the blog.
Apologies about the rant on my last post. I just really need to find a new apartment. It's frustrating when you want to get so many things accomplished and you can't- because you have inconsiderate neighbors who interrupt your sleep constantly.
I want to wake up early and work out so I can get my triglycerides down, as well as improve my general health. But I need more rest.
I really want to go back to work part time and feel like a contributing member of society. But I can't even begin to focus on that right now while I'm stressing. And get I need to get more rest.
I want to be just a generally more active person. I know I'll never be a gung-ho go-getter who can do a million things in a day like some amazing people I know. I envy them and their vivacity, get-up-and-go, motivation, and plain old energy. Yeah, I used a Thesaurus. Shush, I'm tired. I ran out of synonyms. I just want 1/4 of the energy that a normal person has; and I would have, if it wasn't for those meddling kids. Oh wait... that's Scooby-Doo. I mean those noisy upstairs neighbors.

Sorry, went off on a tangent. Now where was my poor scattered brain again? Oh yes. I was able to work out this morning. Did a little yoga. Kinda tipped over while doing a twist in a warrior pose. Kinda scared my poor dog. It was actually really funny. I laughed out loud. At MYSELF! Now how many people can say that about their day-to-day-lives? I was never in any danger, I can assure you... I almost always tip over while doing yoga. Especially when doing twists. That, I definitely blame on the MS. I used to be a Varsity Song-Leader in High School. I have dancing skills dammit. I used to have balance skills. Well, better balance skills than I have now. Here's what the crescent half moon pose should IDEALLY look like:

Here's the link to an article on how to do the pose, by Sara Ivanhoe, my favorite yoga instructor. 

http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411838,00.html

Try it, if you are able, just for kicks! Let me know how you do!! Be very careful though... and maybe move any nearby coffee tables. By the way, Sara Ivanhoe's following me on Twitter. Eeek!! I'm so stoked!! I feel so popular!!


Doing my yoga today and getting back on a schedule was a good thing for me. I feel better, like I can do things again. I have to remind myself that no matter what stresses arise in my life- nothing is more important than my health. If you have your health- you have everything. So daily yoga, watch out. I will be knocking crap off of my coffee table and scaring poor Sid much more frequently. And I'll feel much better for it. Namaste.

Quick Update: My Google + name is Ali Bab. if you have problems finding me, please send me a message. I'm new to it too. But I believe you can find me by that... I hope. I'm also on Pinterest now, but I'm on there by my full name, so you have to message me for that and then I can give you the link. Happy Saturday!!

I'm So Tired; But I'm Trying to Put on a Happy Face!

As anyone with MS knows, you get fatigued ALL of the time. Sleep? Eight hours is a bare minimum to be a functioning human being the next day. For me, personally, to get through the day- I like a good nine hours. Unfortunately, I have upstairs neighbors from hell and with all the ridiculous amount of noise that they make- I've been getting about six hours a night. No bueno. No bueno at all! 


My upstairs neighbors (there are three, a mom, a dad, and kid about 5) are the worst. They stomp. STOMP! STOMP! STOMP! They take about five showers a day. She cleans every day. Starting at 7 a.m.!! Vacuuming, doing like 3 loads of wash in the community laundry room a day, and she mops all the time. It's a small two bedroom apartment, same layout as mine. She also opens and closes the closet doors about five times at 6 am when she's looking for something for her kid to wear. If you can't find it- here's an idea: leave the door open! It's fraying my nerves. 


I had to go to the office and complain today. I said I feel as though they are trying to intimidate me out of the apartment that I have lived in for longer than they've been here. I also told the manager that I have MS and I NEED my sleep. I'm not being lazy. Oh, and when I shower, the evil witch goes into the bathroom and bangs doors and drops crap in the shower. Freaking me out!! What the hell? So darn rude!! The manager, at least, completely agreed with me and they are getting a letter of warning. I will continue to complain until they stop. If they don't stop, hopefully they get kicked out. You would think that people would know that A) you live in an apartment and B) you live in the upstairs apartment. Maybe you should watch your noise level. But people have no common sense. So, I've been trying to do a lot of things, but they've all been put on hold because of these extremely rude neighbors. I'll let you know if they shut up. Or if they move (crossing fingers).


This saying totally fits me at the moment. It was this or an expletive filled rant about rude neighbors. 

There is a great site filled with passive-aggressive notes to neighbors. Here's the link: http://www.happyplace.com/3941/the-most-entertaining-obnoxious-or-completely-insane-notes-written-to-neighbors

Enjoy.

Until then, I'll just keep my head up and keep thinking...

"Gray skies are gonna clear up,

Put on a happy face!
Brush off the clouds and cheer up,
Put on a happy face!
And spread sunshine all over the place, just
Put on a happy face!"


Unless they keep waking me up. Then, it's on. Just kidding. I also don't know what happened to the background color. It's because I'm so damn tired. Blergh. :(

My New Hair, Latest Neurology Appointment and My Dream Valentine

So, it is that time of the year again. As I write this, it is the 7th of February, so Valentine's Day is in exactly one week. It has got to be my least favorite holiday of them all. If you're in a relationship- you have a ton of pressure about what you're supposed to do for that day. Going out to dinner is a nightmare. A million others are doing the same thing. If you are single- Hallmark and all the other companies make you feel like a total loser. Well not this year Hallmark! I reject your idea of a commercialized lovey-dovey holiday! I bought myself some chocolate and some tulips (my favorite flower) and I sent cards to those in my life that I love. I have no problem with love. I LOVE, love. How could you not? But it comes in many shapes and sizes. I send my 89 year Nana a Valentine because she rocks and she loves me more than anyone in the world. Except my dog. No offense to friends and loved ones, I know you all love me, but you get the point. So, Sid, the amazing dog, will be my Valentine and I will eat chocolate that I bought myself. And do whatever the hell I want that day. :)

I'm feeling pretty rocking and damn good about myself since my amazing cousin did my hair. I went back to brunette (the color I was born with) and am rocking some awesome bangs.

Yep, I'm feeling a lot better. What a difference a haircut can make. Plus that stupid cold seems to have finally run it's course (knock on wood). Look out boys (okay, men, boys just sounds better) Allison is single and ready to mingle. God, I'm a dork. I need to find a hot dorky man. He must exist, right? Right?!? I also wouldn't complain if he looked something like.....

The ever so scrumptious Michael Fassbender. Or as TMZ called him, Michael Fenderbender. Yep, he could cause a lot of those when people are looking at him. I had my Neurology appointment today and on the way home I stopped at Barnes & Nobles and spent my Christmas gift card on the Interview magazine with him on the cover. Well spent, I must say. I also got a book. I'm also intellectual, not only obsessed with MF's beauty. ;-)

The Neurology appointment went well. I have to go in for my MRI soon. No big deal. I just fear going in for them because I feel really good at the moment. I don't want to see any new lesions and get bummed out by it. So, I'll keep thinking positive thoughts and keep in mind that if there are any new lesions, they must be in a part of my brain that I don't use. Although I like to think I use a lot of it and that's why I got the damn MS in the first place. Cause my brain's so big it was pushing up against the skull. Just a theory, Let me have it.

Till next time readers, stay strong, and may you find love wherever you look for it. And if you don't find it- make your own.

I think I Might Be a Zombie

For me, my brain feels like it's at its peak performance at about 6 to 9 p.m. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is not set up to run that way. I really kinda hate it. I wish I was a morning person, I really, really do. But I never get going until at least noon and then I feel like the best of the day has passed me by. Before noon, I just feel like a zombie. I always have errands, Dr. appointments, just day-to-day things to do that must be done- during daylight hours. So it sucks. Why is it that as I'm chilling at home at 7 p.m., I feel like I could take on the world? Is it the MS? Is it because I know I can't actually go out and do stuff at that hour? Like a reverse psychology thing? And then of course, there's the annoying fact that after spending all day trying to wake up, by the time it's 8 p.m. and I do feel like I'm FULLY here; I take forever to fall asleep.

I'm looking into ways to overcome this. I'm trying to get up and get moving in the morning, rather than staying in bed, watching Good Day L.A. and getting nothing accomplished except probably killing off brain cells that I cannot afford to lose. I know this also sounds like I'm complaining and I really don't want to do that either. I want this blog to be a happy place. Happy thoughts. Puppies and kitties(cute!). Chocolate(yummy!) Michael Fassbender(cute AND yummy!!). Not blogs about things that will bum people out. I just have these thoughts that run through my head at night(when my brain runs the best) and I need somewhere to voice them. Vent them. Same difference.

I might be the only person out there that functions the best during prime-time hours. Who knows, maybe that's just how I would be, MS or not. There's also the possibility that I feel the best at that time because I'm the most relaxed then? For instance, tonight, that's when Modern Family is on and I'm laughing and not worried about getting anything done? It's a working theory. I know I'm definitely not the best person at handling any kind of stress.

It's also not as if I cannot function during the day. I can and do. It's just that where I feel like I'm functioning at 75% at 1 p.m., it feels like I'm at a full 100% at 8 p.m. I'll try to keep track of what is causing this, if I can figure it out, and if I can do anything to make it better and then let you know.

I have been doing better about blogging. I've just been telling myself to write, even if it's supremely boring. It's also helped me get out and actually do things! Even stay in and work out, just to do something. It's a great motivator, having a blog. I still have a bit of that flu, so I'm still taking it pretty easy. The flu has nothing to do with my fatigue during the day either. Well, I'm sure it doesn't help, but the fatigue has always been there. Hopefully, just as trying to blog more often has been successful, trying to be more energetic during the day will take hold too.

I have a busy rest of the week. Taking someone else to the Dr. and then I get to go have my hair done. I'm super excited for that. So, until I blog again, I leave you with Michael Fassbender and puppy photos. You're welcome.

What is Happiness to You?

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” 

― Dr. Seuss

What makes you happy? Are you generally a pessimist or an optimist? Sometimes happiness shows up as soon as we wake up, some days we never feel completely happy. So, I was running around yesterday doing some errands I was thinking about it. What makes me happy? When am I the happiest? I'm also reading a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, so I'm sure that played into it too.

Overall, I am a pretty happy person. I would say I'm an optimist and happy 97% of the time. Give me my dog and a book to read and I am set for a good day. I also had to paint my toenails yesterday and I realized, painting my toenails makes me happy. The fact that I CAN  paint my toenails makes me happy. The bright colors brighten my day when I see my cute toes in flip flops. And on a day like yesterday when it hit 85* here, I was wearing flip-flops, so seeing those cute little bright red cute toes made me supremely happy. I used a red color call Racey Rouge. How could that not brighten your day, I ask? Here's a pic of my "Racey Rouged" toes in front of Sid last night. Yes, I'm pointing my toes funny so that you can see the color.

As I said, I was running around doing errands, and one of those was taking Sid to the groomer's. While I was waiting for him I went by my old work and I even went by Starbucks, picked up a Frappacino (thanks Christmas gift card!) and then stopped by the Garden Grove Library. I used to go there all the time as a kid with my mom and we would take bread to feed the ducks. The ducks are still there, being fed by a new generation of moms and kids, and they even have geese, roosters, and special ducks that aren't the normal Mallards that I'm used to. I was sitting there reading and an older man came up to me and he told me they even get a crane. He also told me that the roosters are there because the GG Police confiscated them from a house (they're illegal here because of the noise and because people do cock fighting) and the cops decided that the library was the best place for them. It's a good deal for them now. It's where I'D want to go. :)

So, I took Sid to the groomer's and now he looks and smells likes a brand new dog. And with my newly painted toes, I feel like a new woman. I spent some time with old co-workers and at a place full of books.

So, here's my question to you, my dear readers:
What makes you happy? Big or small? Whether it helps you get your mind off MS or whether you are perfectly healthy? I'm very interested to hear what makes your day brighter.

So, Where Was I? Oh Yeah... Blergh...

Blergh is the only way to describe how I have unfortunately been feeling since the New Year started. Resolutions? What resolutions? I've barely been able to think about them because I've been fighting a damn flu/cold that just will NOT go away since the beginning of the year. Blergh. I'll start to feel better and then- blammo! Feeling sick again. I missed a lot of things because of it. I'm sneezing as I type this, but I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Okay, pity party over.

I am very sorry that after all my grand plans to blog more... I haven't. I had nothing to talk about and I really lacked the energy to get up and do it- even it something amazing had happened. Like Michael Fassbender crawling out of my TV screen. (A girl can dream right?) Actually, I could probably do a whole blog on him and how beautiful he is. And no, I did not just jump on that band-wagon. I have loved him since I first saw him on Hex on BBC America. For my 32nd birthday, I made my friends go with me to see X-Men: First Class. MMM, Michael Fassbender. But I know that there's absolutely no point in having a blog about living with MS and then leaving people without reading anything. Then again, if you have MS, you know how easy it is to stay in bed and watch Michael Fassbender movies instead of making yourself get up and do something.

So, what have I been doing, you might be asking? Crocheting and watching Downton Abbey. Yep. Crazy cat lady, here I come. I'm almost done with an afghan for a friend. I'm only about a year behind. Whoops. 

I did manage to get up and do a little yoga this morning. Was that a good idea? I don't know yet. I am proud of myself for doing it though. It's so gloomy and rainy today. If there was ever a day to stay in bed and watch some Masterpiece Theater, it would be today. 

I'll be resting up and crocheting, trying to get better. It's pouring cats and dogs. It should be easy to rest up today. I hope everyone is feeling good and healthy and that if you made any resolutions of your own, I hope you have been able to stick to them better than I have. Happy Monday readers!!

These photos were added at 4:02 P.M. I blame my cold. I just want to show that even with my MS and my horrid balance... I do pretty well on my Wii. Wiiiii!!! Sorry, my little brother and I always have to do that when we say it.

The first pic is my Wii Fit age: 24. Not my best, but not too bad. The best has been 20. 12 years younger. Gulp.

On the Dual Balance Test, I am just lucky if I can complete it. Today I did it in 28.39 out of 30 seconds. Go me!

 And finally, the Single-Leg Test. Yep, I hold on to the entertainment center. The Wii says I'm allowed to. So shush. I scored 99%. I'm proud. :)

I'm a Driver, I'm a Winner; Things Are Gonna Change, I Can Feel It.

HAPPY 2012!!

Since the Rose Parade aired today, instead of on the first, I feel that I'm not technically late with my first blog of 2012! What's that you say? An excuse?? Maybe... But seriously, it doesn't feel like a new year until those pretty floats are on my screen and I'm watching Bob Eubanks and Stephanie Edwards tell me that they hold the parade on a Monday instead of yesterday, a Sunday, because the horses used to get spooked by the church bells on Sundays. There's also a legend that the parade has an agreement with God not to hold it on a Sunday and in return, it will never rain on the parade; but a few years ago it sure poured on poor Stephanie Edwards when they put her on the street. Thankfully, people threw a fit and she's hosting again. I'm glad, I hated seeing her in that pouring rain!

So, anyhoo, I figure today starts the actual new year. Plus, it's a leap year. An extra day, right? And I have a bit of a cold. I debated heavily about getting out from under the covers at all. But 80* on January 2nd will make you want to. (Seriously, what on Earth is up with this weather?!?!)

Now down to business:
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sid did too. Santa left him some bones under the tree. Check out the pic of him waiting for Santa!

And family members sent him a ton too! I got some wonderful gifts too, just as I always do. My Nana is better than Santa. Sorry, Santa. Speaking of which, those two amazing gift givers ran into each other this year:

Santa at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana was amazing! My Nana is 89 and when I saw that Santa happened to have no kids in line (I know, how often does that happen?) I asked him to come take a picture with her. She called me a stinker, but I know she secretly loved it. I even had the picture put on a coffee mug. One of my favorite moments ever! All in all, a great Christmas. Next year I am not making cookies as gifts though. Waaay too much stress!! I think I'll do the crocheted ornaments again, but I'm starting now! No rushing throughout December! They turned out pretty well. It's definitely a case of the more I do it, the better I am. If I haven't crocheted in a few months, it takes awhile to get back to it. Here's a pic:

I have made some resolutions for the new year. I hate calling them that though. Let's call them guidelines. And no, I'm not sharing them all with you. Sorry. Some are personal, some are just downright nerdy, and I kinda believe that I'll be more likely to keep them if I have less pressure on me to do so. I know, usually it's the other way around, but not for me.

That being said, I will share THREE with you (aren't you lucky!) ;-)
1) Blog More!-
     There's no reason to blog as infrequently as I do, except for pure laziness and the fact that I do not do enough interesting things to blog about... which brings us to
2) Do More Interesting Things!-
     Maybe I'll meet some cool people AND I'll have better things to blog about. Less abstract ideas; more, here's the cool thing that happened to me yesterday!
3) Get Healthier-
     This includes a multitude of things, from working out more, varying my workouts, eating better, reading up and doing more research about MS, to even finally getting a wisdom tooth pulled (ugh). This is a never-ending resolution and I'm okay with that.

So, that's all I'm sharing with you. I will get on it. Starting today! I did already do a new blog entry, didn't I? Go me! 1 down! Kinda. As I said, they're more guidelines for the year, not "resolutions".

And so I leave you with this, Happy New Year's to all and welcome to my new readers! How awesome was it to come back after a month's hiatus to new readers! And when I check my stats, I see that people from all over the world have checked out my blog. I am truly humbled! I hope to do you all proud! As always, if you want to hear about anything in particular, let me know!!