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!!!

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 

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.

The Post-It Note Is A Thing Of Beauty

I'm sorry, I had to take a week off from blogging. I was sick and couldn't bring myself to find the extra energy. Blogging is somewhat like exercise from me. If I miss too many days of it, it feels like I have to start all over again. Anyhoo, I had my flu shot a week ago last Friday, I was hoping that I would not get the flu because of it, but I did. I think my immune system was also hindered by the weird weather we've been having. Hot during the day, cold at night. It seems like a lot of people have the flu. It's hot and the Santa Ana's are blowing today, but it's supposed to be rainy only in the 50's by Friday. Go figure.

Being sick and laying in bed and doing absolutely nothing productive did lead me to my newest blog idea though....

The beauty of the Post-It note. I cannot express in enough words how much I love these things.

Really. I love, love, LOVE Post-It notes!! I'm one of those people that always thinks of things I have to do the next day, right as I'm falling asleep.

Lying in bed, nodding off watching something like Family Guy, I always think to myself, "Oh yeah, you need to go to the bank tomorrow, and the grocery store because we're out of bread (or whatever I'm out of). Also you need to call so-and-so about that appointment and make sure you call to have the maintenance guy fix the sink." With the Post-It notes, I can keep them on my nightstand, along with a pen, and jot down all these random thoughts that pop in my head late at night.

Without my lovely Post-It notes, I would totally wake up and completely forget all those things that run through my mind at 11:00 P.M. I would be lazy and read all day and never get to the grocery store. The sink would never get fixed. Post-It notes are my To-Do list. right by my bed, so as soon as I wake up, I know what I need to do that day.

Between the MS and the fact that I take Topamax for migraines, my brain is not quite what it used to be. Which is sad, because my brain is awesome. Did you know the nickname for Topamax is "Stupidmax"? Fun!!! But my Post-It notes help keep my life together when everything feels like it could unravel at any minute. So, I just had to give a shout out to my colorful, square paper that helps so much.

I've finally kicked the flu (knock wood). So maybe my brain will start functioning at full speed again soon and I will have a better blog next time than an ode to the Post-It.

As for the new med, the N-acetyl glucosamine, I've been on it for about a week and a half now, so I have no news to really report yet. No bad side effects, not feeling any change. But then again, I was fighting the flu, so I will report back again later.

As always, much love, and don't blow away on this blustery day!!

I Thought It Was Supposed To Be Fall Already?

But I guess Southern California did not get that particular memo.
I had to wake up at 7:30(A.M.!) to start my laundry since the laundry room gets so hot (no air, super small window) and apparently... we broke the seasons. It's going to be 97* here today. Ewww. Global warming? The whole Mayan calendar end-of the-world thing? Too many Kardashians? Is the Earth shifting? Very, very strange days indeed.
So, anyways, in an attempt to get my cleaning days from Thursday to Tuesday (school, Dr's appt's and other things are making Tuesdays seem the better choice), I am cleaning today. Doing laundry at the moment. Well, blogging while I wait for clothes to dry...
Remember when you were a kid and you watched "The Jetsons" cartoon on TV? Why, in this golden age of technology, has no one invented a real Rosie the Robot? Not the Roomba thing. A real robot that will clean the damn toilet! That would make my life SOO much easier! Especially on hot days like today, when it is supposed to reach 97* in Orange County! We have iPads, the Internet on our phones and can do all these amazing technological things, but... no cleaning robot maid? What the what!?! Just imagine the possibilities...

I feel gypped. I don't even care about the flying cars. Could you imagine the 405 if people flew? Scary. :/ Sorry, I meant scarier.
I'll be turning on the air soon, only to turn it off later because it will be cold (chilly) here tonight. I'll get a sore throat. Just blogging/venting until that pesky laundry is dry and then I get to it.
No Rosie.. Life sucks.. I wish it was fall already. Memo to self: Must cryogenically freeze self and wake up when there is a cure for MS and cleaning robots.
Ok, done venting.

I also want to give a shout out to another blog. One of my favorite bloggers has discovered a new therapy for Multiple Sclerosis. It's called K.A.T. therapy. The link is below. I think it's going to help a lot of people, so please check it out. It's also plain hilarious, so MS or not, give a look anyways. It'll make your day! I'm enlisting my cat Nibbler ASAP to start my treatment.

http://rabidsmsdiary.blogspot.com/2011/10/kat.html#comments

Happy Wednesday. Here's hoping Fall figures out where California is soon!

Also as a late add-on, I've subscribed to this newsletter about MS from about.com and I'm really enjoying it. No awesome cats, but some helpful stuff. Here's that link:

http://ms.about.com/bio/Julie-Stachowiak-Ph-D-25262.htm?nl=1