NORMAL

October 21

I was trying to wait until I could post of a beautiful picture of a colorful autumn tree but I still haven't seen one yet. Crazy weather.

Too hot, too humid. Maybe this weekend.

There are days when I feel "normal" (normal for me)....go to exercise classes, the grocery store, move furniture, write books for my grands, frame pictures, feed birds, watch tv (too much?) read the newspaper, play word games on the computer, cat stuff 

Then there are days when everything hurts or is sore, lots of fatigue and nausea, headache and stomachache, my hair looks thinner and my thighs look fatter, too many meds that don't feel like they work.

 I give myself about an hour or so of self pity and woefulness , then some healthy breathing and MAJOR get over yourself self talk. 

Usually works as a jump start and if that doesn't work I go in my yard (and my neighbors yards) and pick up and collect fallen branches, limbs and sticks and either bag them or pile them. Very good therapy.

Hope your days are normal (whatever that means). Looking forward to visits from grandchildren and children and friends and family.

Happy  WHATEVER !!!!

Sunday October 9th .What a gloriously beautiful  day.!!!!Cool. Breezy. Sunny. No biting bugs. I spent 2 hours in the morning picking up sticks, and small tree limbs. I filled 3 leaf bags.
Then I changed/redesigned the cat stone garden (statues etc) from the back yard to the front yard...........The  photo on the right is from May .
The left photo is from today.I worked a couple of hours moving everything. Very satisfying. I love moving stuff. I didn't fall, trip or stumble. Hope the trick or treaters like cats. This year I am giving out little toys (from Oriental Trading Co) instead of candy. We'll see how that works !!!  Later !!      

new year

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BLOG READERS

and friends and family and fellow PD and dogs and cats !!!
Resolutions
1. move my body
2. take my meds
3. calm down
4. be positive
5. breathe

I hung up this jacket next to the front door hoping that this would prompt cool, maybe even chilly weather . It is NOT a raincoat. It doesn't have a hood. Too tricky to get out of the car, open an umbrella, avoid puddles, slippery parking lots and sidewalks . And then take the wet umbrella back in the car, try not to fill the carseat with water. And it is the day to put out trash and recycling at the curb.
Not complaining.
Just musing, happy to watch the rain wind water from inside a comfortable family room

Glasses

Like my cat Lily I can get comfortable and sleep anywhere ! (Once slept in a bathtub in a hotel !!)

(and in the lobby of the Oberlin Inn. The desk clerk got me a pillow and cover at 2 am )

I learned something new about PD  ( I thought I knew it all) I have been having trouble for a while with getting my glasses "right"....if I can read clearly (computer. newspaper) then I can't read print on the TV. I have graduated bifocals (4 pairs with slightly different prescriptions) . I move them up and down my nose. I have seen 2 opthamologists, had glasses made a 3 different shops, but still not right. So I asked Dr Pagan (my neurologist ) if there was an eye doc who knows about PD. He recommended Dr. Shin who is a neuroopthamologist.....

He said that YES ...that for some people with PD the visual muscles slow down. up/down/side to side

THAT  for some people like me, graduated bifocals don't work because of the minute changes in the lens my eyes can't adjust fast enough . His recommendation is to go back to the optometrist and see about BIFOCAL or TRIFOCALS (who knew??) that are separated by a line.

Also he said to use hydrating eye drops several X a day...PD people blink less than others ( he noticed that I blink less) and it dries out the eyes .

So again.....who knew ??

Fighting (boxing)

I am fighting PD. I am battling tremor, fatigue, imbalance, missteps, sweats.........
I do yoga, 'chair', and boxing. Anything and everything I can come up with to deal with the effects of PD.
By the way, I haven't figured out jabs, punches and footwork !!!

Sept 12 2016

After a great trip to Madison, I of course returned to the usual list of bodily complaints ....aches, pains, stiffness, stomach stuff, and a few new ones that I will not list (you're welcome)

I try to focus on the positive....

Back to exercise classes. Yoga and "chair" and now BOXING !!!

I love punching bags ! My father bought me gloves and a punching bag when I was about 6. Apparently I like punching people (sister and dad) .I haven't punched anyone in the past 50 years but you never know !!!

More later, when something blog worthy happens.