I'm so glad you could attend. Come Inside, Come Inside.....
..........Thanks for stopping by to browse my latest gripes, grumblings or even progress that I'm making with Transverse Myelitis. This blog is my vent to the world about this rare disorder.
and I'm posting...not sure why...but I figured a quick one would do..
One thing to update...my foot..or toe more specifically.. as long as I have a shoe on, my toe feels okay. I guess it's the support. I took another picture of it today..it's weird..the bruising is moving across my foot..towards my big toe..
I have no idea why the bruising is doing that...but oh well... One other thing I mentioned a while back...I was supposed to be going into the VA to get fitted for orthopedic shoes because my right heel has been bothering me. It is because of the way I have to stand now..all my weight is placed right on my heels and my right heel is getting real sore..and getting kind of numb. I haven't heard back from the VA yet so I am going to call Monday I think and see what's up. I can't deal with this much longer.
Well...a short post tonight... How about some music..?
One of my fave bands...Little Feat..
and then this video... this is a particularly touching song. The original was touching as it was..the song.. Vincent from Don McLean. This version with Don singing and the amazing Chet Atkins on his guitar. This will bring a tear to your eye..
I have to post today...I am tired but so happy... A few days ago my 5 year old grandson informed me that there was going to be a Veterans Day celebration at his school and Veterans were invited to come and bring memorabilia to show the kids and the school was going to serve breakfast and then have an assembly. Well, my wife and I got there...breakfast was scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits... But what the school did for the assembly was awesome. First, for the vets..they had a list of all of us...and the principal of the school called us by name, one at a time and also said the branch of service. As each name was called we would walk up to the center of the assembly room and then stood side by side with all the vets. After that we sat down and many of the classes had put together some little skits and various things to thank the vets...and the band teacher at the school played the theme song of each branch of the military, on a trumpet. We also had a moment of silence to give our respect for those lost, while the band teacher played Taps... This brought a tear to my eyes...
I also had a chance to speak to my grandsons kindergarten class and show some pictures I had, some squadron patches I had and my shadowbox from when I retired. It was cute watching them look at everything. I know that most of this was probably beyond their understanding but I think they enjoyed seeing everything.
Anyway, this was only about a 2 1/2 hour adventure from the time we got there until we left...and I am beat. I know that some of it has to do with the emotions...I am so proud to have served my country but I am more proud of those that have served with me and even though it is very sad, I am the proudest of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for what they believed in. Days like Veterans Day mean so much to me..
Now, how did the TM play into this...well first, I wore jeans today because I thought I should look presentable in my grandsons school. The first time I've put jeans on since 14 May. It's interesting because I've read many instances of others that are bothered by their clothes or certain touches in places. How those sensations hurt or are very irritating. I discovered what they meant today...I couldn't wait to get those jeans off. I don't know if it was the fabric, the weight of the fabric or what...but my butt and the tops of the backs of my legs felt like they were on fire while I had those jeans on. I usually wear sweats and they don't bother me as bad..I guess because the fabric is a lot softer.. I also had to do a bit of walking around inside the school which was tiring... Add all this to the fact that I woke up at 4:00am because my legs were bothering me... I'm bushed right now.. But that Veterans Day Celebration was wonderful and I am so glad I went.
I also get to go to another one this coming Tuesday for my nephew..hopefully I get a good nights sleep the night before.
Quick update on the toe...it feels better, it's still somewhat sore but it is getting better, although if I bump it..it reminds me that I just broke it...
I'm gonna nap for a bit...but before I do that...a couple of tunes for ya.. Some blues... Ya gotta love them blues..
The first... a couple of legendary bluesmen..Buddy Guy and Junior Wells
and this vid...from someone that you probably haven't heard of but he is one of the premier bluesmen that there ever was... Walter Trout...
and I'll do a bit of an update today.. Of course I had PT today...No e-stim today...the machine was acting up...Cindie said maybe we should not try the e-stim...she didn't want to chance shocking me.. heh.. I thanked her for that..lol
Cindie had me go for a lengthy walk...one of my goals is a 2000 foot walk with just the cane and without having to stop for a break.. well, I gotta tell ya...I made it just over the halfway mark and I was exhausted...and then that set the tone for the rest of PT...I wasn't doing anything too strenuous, it is just the fact that the activities that I have to do are tough to do because of my fatigue issues... and once I get winded doing one exercise...I recover to a certain point but each exercise wears me down that much more.. ..I'm rambling.. My point is that when PT was over, I was wiped out.
I also had to have an MRI today. My neuro wanted me to have one more MRI on my brain (to make sure I still have one..jk) to make sure there aren't any lesions that he needs to be worried about. He wanted to be able to rule out MS completely. My MRI was scheduled right after PT so when I went in the MRI tube...I got to nap a little... MRI's don't bother me anyway but today was a very relaxing one.
I have lately been trying to keep my focus off of myself...and my pains and spasms and all the other mess...and try and refocus on things that keep my mind busy... Here's what I've been doing...about a month ago, I was invited by someone else that I have corresponded with, that has TM, to join a new TM support networking site...and I did join. It was a site that was started by a guy in Georgia that has TM and he is a veteran of the Army. I liked that fact because we already had two things in common.. Well, membership of the site was fairly low at the beginning but it has grown since and continues to grow practically every day. The owner of the site and myself, chatted a few times and hit it off..and he decided to make me an administrator of the website which basically means that I am able to "Manage" the site..to add things beneficial to the site and the members, change the format...etc..
What I have taken on to keep my mind busy is to compile as many websites, videos and as much information about TM as I can possibly find. To compile support group websites and basically anything at all that the members of the group could find useful. I am adding all of this to a TM Resource page on the website so that any member will be able to find any bit of information or support group or anything that is available that references TM. I feel that when I am done, it will be the most comprehensive resource page available for us TMr's. Surprisingly, as rare as TM is, there is alot of information available on the internet...which is making this a bit of a challenging undertaking...but that's okay... It keeps my mind off of the "pain in my ass" (literally..I have incredible pain in my tailbone, butt cheeks and tops of the backs of my legs) that I have..
