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!!

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! :)