Sunday Snippets

I missed the Nascar race last night, thanks to Comcast's messing up my account and me losing my temper and cancelling my Preferred channels, down to Basic.  Who knew that would leave me with only 30 channels??? Sheesh.  I hate those promotional deals they get to suck you in, and when the promotion is over, it's waaaayyy more expensive then what it was supposed to be.  I remember specifically that it was spose to be under 75 bucks, and I missed the notice (if there actually was one) that said the promotion was over.  $139.00 a month, here it was! 

My neighbor is singing along with his music.  I find it amusing and comforting.  I love happiness.  And hahaha, just as I typed that - another neighbor is screaming at somebody.  Something about "good" people don't live in filth.  The neighbor below me must be smoking pot.  Secondary high, anyone? 

Annie and I went down to the courtyard to do her bizness this morning cause I didn't want to get distracted by taking her out in the world, which tends to happen every time I go out.  I was in the rare mood to clean up my apartment.  When we were down there, my suspicions were confirmed.  It IS my cat who is meowing his fool head off.  Evidently, he can hear me and Annie playing ball in the courtyard.

I'm working hard to get my project off the ground, but it's requiring me to set up another blog.  Somehow I set up 2 separate accounts, which requires extra steps that I do not want to do, and got all confused being numbers and passwords and blah blah blah.  And then?  My new blog was removed by Blogger for spam!  It's a long process to get it back, and I need to get it back, since my new business cards have that web address on them.  Blogger responded today, and now it's up for "review".  A blog with no content in it yet should be reinstated pretty quickly.

My hands are hurting today.  I finally got my Lyrica prescription sorted out correctly.  It took my neuro a couple times to rewrite the script from 60 pills to 90, so that the pharmacy could get Medicare to pay for it.  The one "complaint" I have with the medical care here is that I have to deal with doctors in training.  My neuro is a resident and so, moved on to something else.  The doctor taking her place says there's no notes in my chart regarding another MRI on my spine.  I have the prescription for the Ativan for it, cause I get just a little freaked out.  He was going to get in touch with her, but I haven't heard anything for a month.  I'm spose to have another appointment for the spinal tap results, but again, the ball has been dropped because of the switch in doctors.  I'm not really complaining - it just requires my having to make follow-up phone calls, which I HATE to do. 

My first Weight Watcher's weigh-in is Tuesday nite, so I'll make Wednesdays be my day to post the numbers.  Weight-in Wednesday... works for me.  I didn't track my foods very well, since I didn't have much food to track... my food stamps got cancelled despite my efforts to get my paperwork in on time.  I remember asking on Facebook to get yelled at to get it done.  Well, I got yelled at, and got the paperwork DONE.  Getting it MAILED seemed to be a whole nother issue.  Am rolling eyes at myself.  But I called on Friday, and I should get the letter reinstating them this week.  Same with my Medi-Cal, which hasn't been a problem.  So far, all it pays is the Vitamin D prescription.  Did you know Vit D is the lastest "thing" for "curing" MS?  Not curing exactly... just that MS'ers seem to have a severe deficiency of Vit D.  I, for one, started it about a month ago and I wonder if it has anything to do with my current state of health, which includes not falls for about 2 weeks now...  hmmm.

A word from the wise, learned hard.  I used to dry food out all the time for my cats.  Barf seemed to be eating the majority of it, cause he was gaining weight, and I never saw Hiney at the dish.  I read something online about feeding them only twice a day, and stop the free-feeding.  So they've been getting canned wet food, (and I add water, cause most cats don't drink enough water) in the morning, and a quarter of a cup of dry food in the evening.

By doing this, much to my happiness, it stopped Barf's incessant meowing all day.  Now he only meows twice a day - when it's morning feed and evening feed.  They have their own spot in the apartment and their own dish.  Now I know who's eating what and how much, and rarely do I see either at the other's dish. 

Why having constant dry food in their dish made Barf meow all freaking day long, but now, NOT having it except in the evening, he's NOT meowing all day long... I have no idea.  I guess I'm not that wise after all.

TTFN
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Dover, an Announcement, and a Random MS Factoid

One of the frustrating things often said to me is "Yea, but that's just getting older, too", if I'm commenting on some such symptom or other.  It feels like my very real frustrations are being negated, and that I have no right to be complaining because, after all, we're all getting older, right?

New research suggests that MS'ers lose functions (nerve loss) (affecting what I take to mean all sorts of "age" related factors) (like getting weaker, pee problems, chewing, walking, hearing, seeing) at a rate of 1% a year, compared to a "normal" 0.1% a year.

I've felt like an old lady since the young age of about 35 - not all in my head!

Rot ro... it happened again.

However, he's having a decent day on the track at Dover.

Starting July 1st, in celebrating what I've come to think of as my freedom to be me, I will be starting a new DAILY feature on my blog conducting something very personal, requiring some pre-work, such as redecorating the blog, building some sort of advertisement thingy to put on the trike, joining a ... group of people sanctioning their actions and even business cards.

No... it's not that I've decided to go gay.  I'd be announcing that this month.  Which reminds me, should anyone want to come visit me, the weekend of the 23rd would be the most... educational about what this city is about.  It's Gay Pride Week, and the costumes alone are worth the trip.

I shouldn't say being gay is what this city is all about.  What this city is about is that you're allowed to be Anyone or Anything you want to be and no one will stare at you.  Unless you're an Idahoan who can't believe half the things she's seen here...

Good God, I'm TIRED of all these animals at my feet!

Hank is figuring out a way to keep my coke on ice closer to my bed, since me and the bed are such best friends lately.  He must be independently wealthy, since he doesn't seem too worried about getting a job.  I can't believe I haven't grilled him about it, but I honestly don't care.  He spends alot of time away from me during the weekdays, treating looking for a job LIKE a job.  I also see him just gazing out at the city tho, the same way I did, when I first moved here.  

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Ocean Beach and MS

Remember all my bravado about not being ready for a wheelchair?  Well, my brain may not have a say about it.

Ouch.  A random post I came across.  Weird huh?

Anyways, my physical downfall has caught me completely off guard.  I went to the beach last week on the bike, over 10 miles and felt GREAT.  Then we walked the beach on Friday, being careful not to over-do it, or so I thought.

Annie is holding her own against her boyfriend Oloney.  She's been afraid of the waves, but not any more.  Hank refuses to be pictured on the blog so this will have to do

My hands are confused putting the key in my door.  Lifting the second leg onto the bed requires using my hands to get it up.  The need for sleep is ... the weirdest sensation I've ever felt - it is not possible to deny.

The one night that Annie kept asking to go outside, I simply could not go out my door, without bouncing from wall to wall.  So I set out newspaper on the carpet, and told her to go potty there, hoping she'd understand.  I couldn't even stay awake long enough to see - I fell into bed, arms pinned underneath me, too exhausted to get into a more comfortable position.  When I woke up in the morning, I saw that she had peed on the papers!  I was so proud of her.  And then so sad for her.  I picked up the peed upon papers and hung them over the bathtub, hoping to train her to go in the tub, both pee and poo for my bad days.  My neighbor down the hall has offered to take her outside when I can't take her outside, but I was not able to remember that in the condition I was in.  Everything shut down.  I didn't pee, or poo, or eat, or drink.  I slept like a rock, completely asleep before I turned onto my side.  I texted with my son here and there, about me traveling to Denver maybe but it would not have happened if I got honest with myself.  He called me on Mother's Day, and I lied about having to go play cards cause I couldn't maintain the cheerful I am fine tone, and I wanted to go back to sleep.  I'd wake up to listen to Barf and Annie fighting with each other and go right back to sleep, glad they were occupying themselves.

Hank tried to help, but all he could do was just stand by, and he finally realized there was nothing he could do to help, so he spent most of his time looking for a job.

Why do I lie?  Because I'm trying to convince myself I can do it.  I'm sorry, my son.  When it comes to MS and you, I can't seem to tell the truth.  I don't want you to know how horrible it is.  I don't want to scare you.  I want you to keep climbing rock walls.

I do not think over-doing it was the thing.  I think it was time for a flare-up.  Cause it's over just as quick as it came on.  I walked Delores Park twice today and didn't feel a bit of physical exhaustion.

I've never felt such an over-powering need for sleep.  It may well have been my first true fatigue flare-up.
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Bristol

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In hospital gown

DNF in Bristol today.  (Did Not Finish)  Dale Earnhardt and he touched side by side, and Jeff spun out into the wall.  Wonder how that's gonna work in the garage this coming week... they're teammates. 

I've got too much on my mind these days, and man o man, does it affect my walking concentration.  I've been in bed for the last week cause of rain, pain, and I think I'm trying to conserve energy for the next coming couple of weeks.  It will be good to be house-sitting at a house with a fenced yard with another dog for Annie - I won't have to take her out.  It's surprising how much energy the dog park is taking up.  I hate how much I'm sleeping.  It takes up so much time. 

It's bright and sunny today, but the wind is cold.  The park is a mud hole cause it's been raining the last couple of days.  Annie gets sooo dirty.  I don't mind the mud so much, it dries and brushes off.  But there's sand, and it sticks. 

Daytona

Race day in Phoenix today.  I can't get used to being on the Pacific time zone when I'm figuring out what time the race is on TV.  I should have used this pic last week for the rained out Daytona. 

Today, I am discouraged and depressed about my friendship abilities.  I don't know if I am a total idiot when it comes to communicating or what it is.

It's hard to go from hearing "you're a great counselor" and "you're so easy to talk to" and "you get it" to realizing that what comes out of my mouth is miles away from what is going on in my brain, and it's hurtful instead.  And I can't even figure it out cause I've already forgotten what we were talking about, so I can't go back to defend it or explain it. 

It just seems so much easier to just keep to myself, rather than risk hurting someone because of something I say.

Tell me honestly.  Do I come across as someone who's pointing my finger AT you?

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Gennelmen... Start yer en ginessss!

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Yes, friends and neighbors, it's that time of year again.  The time of year when those of us who live in snowy regions hate the dirty snow piled up one the sides of the roads, and mountains of piled up snow in the parking lots around town. 

I used to travel to tropical islands in the month of February when I was married to Money, and made my own money taking care of 28 children in my daycare.  We were RICH!.  One of my fondest memories is the time I almost drowned while trying to certify for scuba diving.  My loving, brand new husband realized the mistake I had made by marrying him, and tried to put me out of my misery...  that's the story, and I'm sticking to it.





But it was NOT fun leaving perfect weather and the ocean only to come home to 13 degrees below 0, during a blizzard, with 2 feet of snow on the ground.  Not at all.

What the hell?  I'm babbling.

NASCAR!  DAYTONA!  JEFF GORDON!

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He's baaack!

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This picture is in the parking lot in Idaho.  My friend Steve called to tell me their lobby had been vandalized!  Someone came in and broke things, and re-arranged the furniture.  I've been thinking alot about my old home, mostly because the current president of the resident's association here is wanting me to run for office later on this month.  I remember how someone knocked on my door, or left me a note almost every single day in Idaho.  Do I really want to do that again?  Would it be the same?  I would like to put together a "Newcomer's Info Packet", but the rest of it?  Not so much. 

Jeff's got a good record on the Kansas City NASCAR track.  Hmmm, that is weird to think of a track in Kansas.  I didn't think Kansas had anything going for it. Altho, I went to the National FFA Convention when in high school.  I think it was there.  Or maybe it was across the... river?  In the next door state.  Ohmygosh, I just remembered my dog Toby wrote me a letter while I was there!  I'm having a memory!

On the down side of that, I remember that today is my father's birthday.  And that a doctor touched/hurt me inappropriately on that day when I was in my early twenties.  Jeez looweez, is it any wonder why I don't remember things?

On a good note, I agreed to having a pap and a mammogram done when I went to the doctor last Thursday to find out the results of the blood work.  Those who know me know what a big deal that is.  I've had NOTHING done in 12 years, ever since being dx'd with MS.  I didn't care before - figured MS was enough, wasn't going to deal with anything more.  Ignorance is bliss as far as future dx's of anything else.  Didn't want to know, didn't care.

I suppose being happy makes a difference.  This morning, as I crossed the street at the light, I again thought "I'm so happy here".  I don't care about the gritty parts - the garbage, the homeless people filth, the crazy scary people.  I am just so damn happy here.  I knew in my gut that I would be. 



Or maybe I was just too afraid to tell this new doctor no.  Remember when I was a bit critical of her on my first visit?  Well, she was much better today, and I really like her.  She must have been having a bad day that day.  I asked her why she referred me to San Francisco General for my MS, which I can't get into until December.  She said that's who they're affiliated with.  I told her I was getting nervous about not being on the shots for this long, and my pain meds script running out (from Idaho still), that I've decided to get a wheelchair after all, and that the 2 other MS clinics could get me in sooner.  She said she couldn't give me a referral but a little known factoid was that I could call for an appointment myself - that I didn't need a referral.  They prefer having one, but it wasn't necessary.  Well, ok, then. 

 Speaking of all things medical, I'm going to have to have my foot amputated, cause it's turning blue.  Why is it turning blue?  There's a clue...that's not my hairy legs you see.

 Nooo, it's my fat cat.  I have a FAT cat! A fat cat and a hot dog.  A hot dog!  I so funny. 

 A fat cat, with a dead, upside down frog on the floor.  He's not happy that I called him Fat Cat.  "Who YOU calling fat, Miss Missy?", he says. 

 

Uh, okay then.  Never mind!

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Fontana

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Giggle.  He's talking to me!

Best regards,



PeeLister@yahoo.com
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Bristol

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 Race at Bristol.  Busy.  Hate packing.  No, I don't.  Love to pack.  Hate not having enough room to sort things.  

Best regards,



PeeLister@yahoo.com

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

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 Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 I've actually been to this race.  Wish I could find the pictures and remember what year I went...  I do remember spraining my ankle and it was pure purple.



Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

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Phoenix International Speedway (updated)

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 The Phoenix International Speedway 

I wish I was sitting on the top of that hill today!

MY SECRET LOVE WON!!!

 (Can you find the bobblehead?)
Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Find the Statue

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Daytona 500 historical winner 

His 20th birthday was the day before the race.  He's a baby!

This year's Jeff Gordon Statue business will consist of me featuring a picture of the track with the statue inserted somewhere.  The first one to comment with receive a snail mail card from me in the mail!!! 
Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

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Daytona 500, Dale Sr. 10 Years Ago, Remembering

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Ten years ago... still so hard to accept.  The death of Dale Earnhardt Sr., 1951-2001

I knew he was dead when Darrell Waltript, the announcer, kept looking over at the crash.  He had to keep commentating about the winner, who just happened to be his baby brother, Michael Waltrip.  Something about his tears of happiness for his brother, while keeping an eye on the crash... somehow I knew it was bad. 

"Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., followed his dad into the racing business. He said this week that he wants to move on from that tragic day 10 years ago.

'I'm sure 110 damn percent my dad would not want me discussing this 10 years later,' Earnhardt said. 'He would be like, "Look, quit. You've done it. You did it.'
He said he wants racing fans to move on from that tragic day in 2001 when his father died, although he admits it has taken a toll on him; on and off the track.

'If you look at the videos from 1998-99 and if you look at the videos from after that, I'm not the same person,' he said."

 

Various journalists remember.

Get your statues ready!

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ACK!!!

Things are amiss.  Things aren't good.  Things are a mess.  I must get ready.  Where's the super glue?

But life is about to get back on track as of tomorrow.  Punny!


Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

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Michigan

Jeff got put into the wall by one of the Busch Brats at the Michigan Tums Fast Relief 500 race today.  Which pretty much puts the nails in the coffin on his chance at the championship this year. It put him a lap down.  The good news is that he got the lucky dog, so now he's back on the lead lap again.  Only has to pass about 20 cars to get back up front. 86 laps to go.

A friend is going thru a bad time with panic attacks lately, so he's been coming over instead of stewing in his own apartment alone.  He calms down after an hour or two, while we chat and watch TV.  He called this morning, and I told him if he came over, he'd have to watch the race with me.  He fell asleep cause "it was so boring".  Unbelievable!  I'd slap him but it would wake him up.  He's quite the chatty kathy, so I prefer to hear the TV.

Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Fontana Pepsi 400

Today's race is in Fontana, California.  I WISH I would remember my access to fly free in order to go watch races in time to actually make the effort to DO so.  But I'm not especially fond of the Fontana track... but NASCAR is NASCAR, so seeing any race at any track is a dream come true. 

 I think I'm reaching the point to having to make a decision about my life.  I spose it should be a separate post.

Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Kansas City

Today's race.  At the Kansas Speedway, with Kraft sponsoring.

As I was Googling for my images, I came across a couple of disturbing facts:

Whole Grain?  Out of our famous junkfood comfort food?  How dare it try to be healthy.  

 And this is just ... disturbing.  I'm assuming it's near wherever it is that the blue box crap is produced.  Sadly, doing this post made me crave a box of Kraft macaroni.  Since when did it start tasting like cardboard? 





In other news:

 I am tired.  Sick.  Sick of being sick.  Have a cold - a simple cold, but MS magnifies everything physical into a ridiculous situation of pure misery. 

Sorry.

And I'm slightly pissed that I do so much for the people around here in the apartment complex, and most do NOTHING for me, even when it's obvious that I'm sick as a dog.  "Sick as a dog"?  Where the hell does that come from?  Googling. Oh, okay, according the the British.  According to the English versions, it remains unclear. 

Back to my Pity Party.  31 laps to go, Jeff has led laps, so he's got the five extra points for that.  Currently running 11th.  Just pitted.  Ha!  Pitted.  Pity Party.  I so clever. 

Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Dover

Today's NASCAR race is in Dover, Deleware, at the Monster Mile track.  Not being able to photo opp a wrecked car to represent Triple A, and their roadside service, or a Miles the Monster mascot photo opp at the track itself, I went to PhotoChop instead.  You're Welcome.  The things I do for you.

It looks rainy in Dover... does not bode well for the race.  

Speaking of monsters, do not eat two large salads in one day.  Causes bloat, even into the middle of the next day.  Bleh.  The laptop is having a hard time balancing on my belly, as I lay here in bed waiting for the race to start.

Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Atlanta

Today's race is in Atlanta.  I'm a little discouraged about this picture thing cause I lost so many of the pictures I took when my computer crashed and someone said they could fix it without losing all my pictures.  Which also means I've lost a bunch of Muttin/Jeff, and I can't bear to think of that just yet.

So to challenge myself, I'm gonna try to take pics related to either the track, home of the track, or the sponsor.  Today's sponsor is Emory Healthcare.  I dislike anything related to healthcare, but my Copaxone shipment came today, and my Jeffy was handy, so click went the pic. (I notice none of the FAQ's isn't how much it costs... this is a perfect example of why I can't really say how much it costs for real.  My first shipment had a figure of $4,000.00 something.  My co-pay is $5.00 for the first couple of months of the year, then I've meant my deductible already, so after February, I pay nothing.  Well - cept with my conscious. 

It's a boring Sunday otherwise.  I threw the ball for Annie last nite at 2am, when it was the perfect temperature for me.  Between 60 and 70 degrees seems to be optimal for functioning like a real human.  Except for 'the dark' part of this life.  By dark, I mean the 2am thing, not the depression thing.  Ha.

Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com

Michigan

Today's race is at Michigan International Speedway.  Wish I were there.  I need to know someone near the track, for my quest to go to a race at each track - goal plans in the making.

Gordon's in 8th place at lap 41, despite starting way in the back this morning.  Kurt Busch is OUT - ha!

I am trying real hard to get my life back from Enemy Pain.  So fu*king tired of it.  I'm tired of being conned into thinking tomorrow will be better.


Best regards,

PeeLister@yahoo.com