Happy Something Today.. Isn't It?

Oh yeah, Happy World MS Day to you. If you can be happy about that.. meh..

So, anyhoo, I approach the 5th anniversary of my 29th birthday.. I have to say, this year has been pretty damn amazing so far! I love my family and friends, I have the best dog ever, I'm taking on more responsibility at work, WITHOUT the stress, and everything just seems to finally be falling into place!

I had my neurologist appointment recently and everything is good there too (as always, knock on wood!). I'm good on my MRI for another year, so  I just need to get blood work done and I'll be all good!

I'm still tired ALL THE TIME! But I've come to just accept that as my natural state of being for now. I don't like it, but I accept it. Blergh...

On a happier note, I'm really looking forward to the summer! I wish I could handle the heat better... It can be a little hard to see all the "normal" people laying out by the pool on a nice sunny day when I'm stuck in the air conditioning. It can suck covering up Rebif bruises because warm weather calls for less clothing... But, I do love the great things that come with the summer! BBQ's, swimming, the sun staying up late and making me feel less tired. And the beach- even if I'm under an umbrella!

And then there's fireworks on the 4th! One of my friends has an in to the Happiest Place on Earth! Mickey Ears! Another one of my very favorite friends is getting married! Another one is expecting twins! TWINS!!! Holy crap!!! Busy, busy summer!

So, I know it's yet again been awhile since I've paid attention to my blog.. but that's actually a great thing! It just means that I've had so much to do out in the great, big bustling world! So, I'll try to write this summer, since I do love my faithful readers. And it's always so awesome to see people from so far away actually care enough to read my blog in this little sunny, chill corner of the world! But, if it's been awhile between posts, I'm laying by the pool, reading a good book. Probably getting a few new freckles!  So, as always, keep your head up. No tripping when it's sundress weather!

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!!!

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.

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!!

I'm Didn't Disappear... I Just Have MS

I know, I know... long time, no blog. I've just been busy with the holidays. And as anyone with MS will tell you, a little bit of stress to a normal healthy person, can shut us down completely. So, while I love my blog and have the best of intentions when it comes to keeping it updated, it is kinda the first thing to fall by the wayside when life gets busy.

I'm finally done with this semester of school. Hallelujah! I'm registered for the winter semester and finally got my last pre-req class.Thanksgiving and all the delicious food and wonderful family time has come and gone, and now Christmas looms on the horizon. I have a lot of crochet projects up my sleeve for Christmas gifts and that's taking up a lot of my time.

I also had my blood drawn and found out that my triglycerides are super high. Yep, bummer. My diet's not bad, but there goes my favorite fountain sodas. Oh wells. I also am trying to get my butt on the treadmill and elliptical machine in the apartment gym more often. Yoga doesn't get the heart pumping enough. I hate jogging and that damn, evil elliptical, but I'm trying my best! It can be hard with the MS since I'm not supposed to overheat. So, I have to get my heart pumping, but not too much. Make sense?

Otherwise, things are going really well. I wanted to do a Thanksgiving blog about what I'm thankful for, but instead my brother came down and visited and we played Super Mario Bros. Galaxy on the Wii and saw The Muppets. So good. So worth it. But here's what I'm thankful for:
My family and friends- they are awesome and so supportive
My pets
My Dr.'s and the office staff who help me all the time. Like, ALL the time
My health, as crappy as it can be, it could be worse
Chocolate
Books
This blog, where I can vent my feelings and hopefully reach someone else who is going through the same thing
I'm thankful for many, many other things, but I'll stop there.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have a wonderful December. It's the last month of 2011. Let's make it rock! :)

11/11/11... Make a Wish!

Happy 11/11/11. Oh, special day, huh? I missed the 11:11 a.m. wishing point, so now I have to try to make it to 11:11 p.m. Try being the operative word here. I don't know what is up with me, if it's the daylight savings time or what, but I have been lagging every day. I was joking earlier that my next blog was going to be called, "How I spent My Friday Watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reruns on the Couch in my Snuggie". It's sadly only half a joke, because that's all I've had the energy to do lately.

I did get to the dermatologist's on Tuesday. I have Perleche. My lips keep cracking in the corner and no matter how much Carmex or Vaseline I put on them, they aren't healing. Apparently, I drool at night. I also grind my teeth. But the drool leads to the cracked lips. Oh yeah. I feel super hot today. Boys will be lining up for a drooling, teeth grinding, cracked lip, exhausted girlfriend. Yay! I got a medication for it, but I will not be going back to that dermatologist. I saw the PA (physician's assistant) who was a complete idiot. She had no idea what Multiple Sclerosis was or even how to spell it. Really? And she's a PA? Give me a break.

I did make it in to my PCP's office for the blood work I've been putting off. I was supposed to be completely fasting, but I cheated and added creamer to my coffee. I couldn't help it. I hate black coffee. Ugh, so gross.

Now I have to organize some recipes and my crochet and knit patterns. It's a poor Christmas, so people are getting cookies and crocheted or knitted ornaments. There's a bonanza of free patterns out there. So awesome. Also, I found free recipes for doggie treats! Yay for homemade doggie treats for the animals! So, I must go.

Don't forget to make a wish at 11:11. I hope yours comes true.

Love and peace. Also, Happy Veteran's Day and thank you to all of our veterans who keep us safe out there. Like my Papa Bill. He was a pilot in the Navy and one of the best people who ever lived on this planet. He used to unscrew my belly button and tell me my arms and legs were going to fall off. I miss him every day. This photo is of him in 1938 at age 20 on Terminal Island in Long Beach.

Testing, Testing...

I was made aware of an article in the Orange County Register by my Dr. about the effect of N-acetyl-glucosamine on Multiple Sclerosis in a study at UCI. It seems to help slow the disease down a bit. Okay, they tested it on mice, but it worked on them. I ordered mine online and it arrived today. I had to go online because this is not your basic over the counter vitamin, but it was easy enough to get, even if it took awhile to ship. I started it today, I'll let you know how I feel.
Here's a link to the UCI study:
http://today.uci.edu/news/2011/09/nr_ms_110930.php

Happy Monday! I have school tonight and a full day of cleaning tomorrow (sobbing quietly), so I'll be hard to reach. Much love!

I Love Lazy Sundays

I wake up, make some coffee, check my emails and things, and do my Sunday crossword puzzle from the L.A. Times. Okay, I don't actually complete all of it, but I ALMOST can!!

The weather here has been a drag. It's been cold at hot and in the high 80's during the day. Leading to me to feel like I'm fighting off a cold. I just my flu shot on Friday. I anyone gets one, make sure to do it in the hand you do not write with. It feel like you got socked in the arm for a couple of days after.

Yesterday was one of those rare days were I wanted to chill and I was actually able to. And time went so nice and slowly. Usually when you're having a nice day like that, the time just speeds by.

I've been adjusting to a new schedule, so my posts have been less frequent. It'll be back to normal soon. Until then, take care and I hope you are enjoying this lovely lazy Sunday too!

The Secret Life of Sid... Punk Rock Dog!

Our pets are like angels with four furry little paws instead of wings.
No, I haven't gone and gotten all religious on you, I don't believe in religion. But I do believe in something higher than us who created this universe. I call it God and I believe one is the amazing things this creator did was give us animals. When you are having the bluest of blue days, who else can heal you like a dog or cat? Or whichever pet you chose to have? I once had a Gecko. It was awesome.
Have you checked out my fellow blogger Rabid's post on K.A.T yet? Do so and then check back in. The link is on the previous blog post.
OK, you're back? Interesting stuff, huh? Now where was I?
Ah yes, my amazing dog Sid. When I got sick 6 years ago, the best thing I did was go to the pound and adopt my Sid. Part Daschund and Corgi, I truly believe he has helped me heal as much as any of my medications. Who else makes me get up when I'd rather loaf around and be lazy to take him on a walk? Who else is my constant companion and waits on the couch until I get home? Who else looks at me with eyes full of unconditional love?  I love my dog more than words can say. He is my baby.

That's him after a trip to the groomer's. Look at that smile. All sweet and innocent looking, that is until...

His alter ego shows up! Sid the punk rocker! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Sid is actually Sid Vicious. He even has a grin where he shows a tooth like Billy Idol. He sneaks out at night to play poker with those bad dogs up the street. Usually mild mannered, Sid the punk rock dog has no time for bitches. And by that I mean female dogs of course. He loves only the music and the open road...

Mock me all you want for dressing up my dog, but I love him and it makes us happy. OK, it makes me happy. And he gets a treat for it. So it evens out in the end. Sid, mild mannered dog by day, punk rock super star by night, is the best thing that ever happened to me. I like to think we saved each other.
Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope you enjoyed the preview of Sid's Halloween costume!

"His ears were often the first thing to catch my tears."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, referring to her cocker spaniel, Flush

Would You Like Some Blackberry in Your Coleslaw?

First off, thanks for bearing with me yesterday through my pity party. Last weekend and Monday were tough. I was very tired. But I am feeling a lot better today. I hope you all are too.

So, one of the many typical things I do everyday, I did again today. I do so many dumb and dorky things all the time. When I was in junior high, before I was even diagnosed with MS (although, looking back, I can see the symptoms), I went to Knott's Berry Farm on a school trip. As we were leaving, heading back to the buses, I ran into what I thought was a child and said, "Oh, excuse me. Are you okay?". Then I look down and it's a yellow post that came up to my waist. I told you it's important to look where you're walking. ; ) My friends all got a big kick out of that one.

Today I was eating some Popeye's chicken for lunch. Yummy! I made the mistake of trying to multi-task and do something on my phone and I dropped my phone into my coleslaw. Ewww. It's okay, luckily. It's kinda sticky and I'm sure it will smell for awhile. I suppose the moral of this story is to take things one at a time.

I also stopped by the gas station on the corner by my place to get a soda. So sue me, I stay away from diet soda, per my Neurologist's advice, but I love fountain drinks. In fact, that's partly why I dumped my dumb ass ex-boyfriend. Every time we'd drive through a fast food place he'd order about $10 worth of food while I'd order a 99 cent burrito and I'd want a soda. He'd bitch and moan about the cost and say we had sodas at home. (Sodas I had bought! And if you really love a fountain drink like I do, you know they are NOT the same! That wasn't the only reason I dropped him. He was a jerk. That's enough on that subject.) Now, back to the gas station main story. Totally hot guy filling up at the gas station. What did I do? Nada. I did look at him, but he wasn't paying any attention. Maybe he was married or had a girlfriend. In which case, I'm glad he didn't look. But I'm still working on breaking through the shyness and the whole dating with MS thingamajig. I'll ponder it over the next few days.

I won't post tomorrow. Thursday is my cleaning and laundry day and I do best when I stick to my routine. I also have a tendency to sit at the computer and check facebook and my mail and do anything to put it off. So, I'll see you all soon.

Quote of the day: "Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward."- Victor Kiam

MS Symptoms or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

I was so fatigued over the past weekend. Was I getting sick? It felt like I was fighting off an end of summer cold. Hot days, A/C in buildings, and cooler nights; they tend to give me a cold. Or is the usual, crappy feeling that everyone with MS knows and fights on a daily basis? Or is it six of one, half a dozen of the other? I have included a link on MS and fatigue help, but I haven't found the magic cure yet. I was on Amantadine. It helped, but I am apparently allergic to it. My legs looked like you could see every vein. Very scary. Not to mention, not very aesthetically pleasing. I know it's vain, but it was also the fact that people with MS tend to run hotter; and not being able to wear shorts last summer sucked a lot. Now I am on Nuvigil. It's not covered by my insurance though. It's only about $350 a month. Yeah, don't I wish! Add to that- I've been suffering from lips that are cracking in the corners for about the past two months. I was doing some research online and saw that it could be a side effect of the Nuvigil. That sucks, because that stuff is like adding a double shot to your mocha Frappuccino! I like it, it works for me (other than the possibility it’s causing the cracked lips). So, next week, I will see my Neurologist and after that, my PCP, to find out what I can do. I do my best to keep up with my exercise, especially yoga since I feel like it centers me. God knows, people with MS need balance. I take a B12 vitamin in addition to my Women's One-a-Day. But I would love opinions on how others keep their energy up. I've read Montel Williams' books and he has a diet plan that seems great (shakes and stuff), but it doesn't seem extremely affordable or easy. I did read on about.com that someone recommended taking a 10 to 15 minute nap as needed throughout the day. I know that does help me. For someone who suffers such extreme insomnia at night, I have no problem dropping off for a 15 minute nap at any time during the day. And strangely enough, I do feel re-charged for a few hours. Now, how do I convince the rest of the world that that is acceptable behavior?

I also had a couple of days where I woke up with what I call the "MS twitch". It's waking up and doing that sleep jerk thing, like you do when you're nodding off, but a little bit more. It happens to me a lot in the mornings, usually when I am really tired. Sometimes it's accompanied by, not quite blurry vision, but it's almost like I can see an outline of my iris when I look at the wall or the floor. These symptoms are not too worrying to me. I have been feeling so much better than I was. The "twitch" and the fatigue are so much better than the double vision and the vertigo back when I was diagnosed. I know when I see my Neuro next week, he'll probably want me to schedule an MRI, but that's something I'm due for anyway.

I'm just very curious if anyone has found any natural cures for fatigue. Does anyone keep a diary of their symptoms? (I'm really bad, I don't track mine.) Are you on medication for fatigue, and if so, has it helped you? I was researching Provigil and Ampyra and I'll have to find out if they're covered by my insurance.

I was going to blog about dating the other day (or the lack of it in my life), but I was so tired I just watched movies all day. So, coming soon will be a blog about how to date with MS. How do you explain your cracked lips and the bruises from your shots, among other things? Where do you meet people nowadays? Other than online, that is? Hell, how to date in your 30's when you're a couch potato who has been told by WAY too many friends that she is "just like Liz Lemon". Nerds. Next time folks, I will tackle the issue of love: where it's hiding and how to find it. Until then, as always, take care and watch where you're walking. :)
http://tamingmultiplesclerosis.com/ms-spasms-twitching-tremors-article.html 
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/fatigue/index.aspx
http://www.mstrust.org.uk/information/opendoor/articles/0502_08_09.jsp
I hope the links showed up, the first time I added them, they didn't, so I had to do it again.

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!!!

First off, let me just say welcome to my new followers and to my friends that I made come check out my site! Blogger shows me where the traffic comes from (don't worry, it just says the country, feel free to stalk and read all you want, I don't know who you ACTUALLY are!! Or do I? No, really, I don't!!!) and I've noticed that I had new readers from the UK and Germany!!! Wow!! I am delighted!! I'm guessing you're here because of my Multiple Sclerosis posts and will hate all of my, "Wow, it's supposed to be 80* again in SoCal. Bummer for us..." posts. I kid, I kid. I'm so amazed that something I wrote was read by someone so far away! May I just say, I've always wanted to go to Europe. Where, you ask? All of it. Maybe because I'm a European mutt; I'm English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, German, Dutch (?, maybe Danish? Mom, Dad?), and French! I'm also part Native American (Blackfoot). Go America and Europe! Go World!! I'll get there one day. Any rich men reading this.... Can't hurt to ask. ; )

So, anyhoo...
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!
Fremde, etranger, stranger.
Gluklich zu sehen, je suis enchante,
Happy to see you, bleibe, reste, stay!

What? I didn't tell you I am HUGE dork? I should have... you're right. Oh well, too late.. You're already reading. Might as well stick around. ; )

Real quick: re-reading my past posts, I've noticed how many typos I do. I apologize after the fact and before I do it again. Because I will, in all probability, do it again. And again. As I said before- It's the plaque!!

But truthfully everyone, it's a very overcast, gloomy day here in SoCal. I'm doing my laundry, procrastinating on my cleaning, and just was truly amazed that I had someone read this from Germany and the UK!! So cool!! It makes me want to watch my Pride & Prejudice DVDs with Colin Firth instead of clean. Of course, I'd always prefer to watch that than clean, but you get the idea....

I have to tell you that I am a huge fan of Harry Potter (books and movies), Jane Austen (books and movies), and Monty Python (books and mov... wait a minute...). I knit and crochet. Because we like, totally like need scarves, for like those cold California nights. ; ) It actually does get cold here in winter. Not Europe, Charles Dickens' winter cold, but it's not always warm. I'm just sayin'. I wish I could go see Top Gear tape live. The real British Top Gear. Not the crummy American version. Sooo not funny. I am also reading currently reading Possession by A.S. Byatt. Oops, I just realized I totally forgot to update my reading list. See, it's the MS plaque!! Grrr. :) I already owned it and had just never gotten around to reading it, so I'm feeling very English at the moment. I'll have to start spelling everything that we Yanks spell with a "Z" with an "S" (I apologise instead of apologize). Ohhh, it's going to be so much fun! I'll pretend I have a horrible Eliza Doolittle accent. That's the only one I can do... :(

So, all European readers, I just wanted to say, "Welcome!". I hope you found something that might have helped you. Please feel free to leave me any comments with questions, I will answer. I have to figure out how you can contact me on here. I'm still a total newbie at this. I would also love to hear if you are experiencing the same thing. Well, I would hate to hear that, that sucks, but I would love to know if you, yourself, are blogging and I can in turn follow you.

To all my beautiful friends who I asked to come check this out, thank you. Again, you're all awesome.

Any other readers who are here in the US that might possibly feel left out, please don't! Welcome to you too! If you're actually here... are you? I have no idea who reads this unless you sign up to follow. Welcome to my followers! Amazing people one and all. Friends and those who are strangers who are friends that I just haven't met yet.

I hope you have a wonderful day. The sun is trying to peek it's head out. I guess it time to clean. In my Labyrinth shirt. What? You didn't know I owned one? Oh yes, I am that AWESOME!! (Haven't seen the movie? I suggest reverting to your childhood innocence and enjoying David Bowie and crazy Jim Henson puppets. You're welcome.)

Take care all, and here is my quote for the day, courtesy of the amazing man who wrote Winnie the Pooh:
"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
-A. A. Milne