execues

Just a quick update. My right leg that I write with is gradually becoming undependable. The toes can still help with some things so I still wear only one shoe and have toes cut out of my sock. My left leg is still learning. I find it extremely difficult to drive with just socks on so wear a shoe.. Where am I going with all this? It is a long way of saying that it is not easy to write. Alternative is to use eyegaze. Some days it is so easy and other days it is impossible. Consequently it is difficult to do much writing. My energy has been used to prepare for a presentation with the director of the ALS Association for Oregon. He got masters degree at Portland State so welcomed the opportunity to present to a masters class. He asked me to participate by preparing the answers to a dozen questions. The topic was about helping with difficult news. As social workers they will have many occasions to that. All the preparations took time. I did most of it using eyegaze, as I am now, so was rather proud of myself. All of you that have sent email I will get going on replies soon and another blog.

TIMBER

Many of you know about the Staghorn Sumac tree outside our our kitchen window. Apparently we drowned it. Coming from a place where average rainfall is 6 inches a year our first thought is to water a sad plant.. Perhaps if we had talked with an arborist earlier it might have been saved. By the time we realized it was sick it was the second year. By then our focus had turned to Dave. Last spring when I talked to an arborist about replacement it was to late in the year. I chose not to take out then because of the almost sculpook of the branches. Besides where else could I am hang my wind catcher and other mobiles.. Now for the story... The weekend of the ALS walk had been a part of a very wet week. The following weekend was beautiful so everyone was outside. I was out on on the deck when Todd, Cindy and the boys stopped by after bike riding to lunch.. Soon Walker asked if they could cut down the tree. When I said yes, both Walker and Sam said really? Then Todd wondered aloud if Poppop had a tree saw. That was all it took. They rushed to the garage and quickly came back with the saw. I am not sure I could have told where to look for it. They must have used it with him. I did not expect the enthusiasm to last long when it became difficult. All three took turns cutting branches until Miles could not do it. At 7 playing with the cut branches was better. When I mentioned we had a long pole trimer Sam used that to cut the many of the outer branches up higher. Knowing how hard it had been for me I was impressed. Meanwhile Walker was working on other limbs. Todd had the opportunity to show them how to guide a larger branch with a rope. The two boys took turns sawing until 9 year old Sam met his match. He stuck to it, sawing from both sides but finally needed help. He then worked on cutting smaller branches off the limbs that were already down. From that point on 11 year old Walker faced the trunk on his own. It was tall enough to require two cuts. He had water and a short break before starting the first cut. With a couple of water breaks andhelp. Walker choose to cut it near the ground without help. We were all really proud of him as he took necessary breaks while we refusing offers what of help. Finally with a sigh of relief it was finished.. His well-deserved pride in finishing a difficult job shone on his face. For me the greatest pleasure was seeing the determination and skill. It was a peek into the the future. ted l

thoughts

Several times a week my caregivers do range of motion and massage to preserve flexibility. During this time we listen to various CD's. Yesterday we were listening to Simon and Garfunkel. That started me thinking about various folk singers from that era. Are there singers doing that style today? Is rap the current folk song? Can anyone provide some insight?

Thanks to all of you that commiserated on my pity party. Dori and Paul, thanks for the card and gentle reminder that people do worry when I don't write.

once again

I am so frustrated! Once again I am looking for new caregivers. I had full coverage but no room for illness or time off. Because I am so special (require lots of skills) people need training before spending hours with me. Working 12 hour days is hard so we needed some relief available. Even though night people do sleep just having 2 people is asking for trouble. Recently the agency identified 2 women that were interested in learning new skills and one wanted only nights or weekends. After interviews everyone was excited. Celebration was premature. Two days later one of the more recent additions to my team gave her 2 weeks notice. Now training became more important. After spending all day Thursday and 4 hours Friday training a new person, she decided she did not want to continue. I am thinking we should not teach shower and range of motion until they work a few regular days. Hopefully the other woman we interviewed will work out.

Wet and Windy Walk Day

Today was the ALS walk. This after walk picture sums up the day. About the best I can say is that there were several thousand people crazy enough to walk during an extreme weather event. Heavy rain and wind usually keep sane people inside. Looking around I noticed how many people had rain pants and water resistant jackets. Of course there were the expected Duck and Beaver rain gear. Even with the nasty weather I am glad I went. There is always so much energy that raises hope that some day there will be a treatment and even a cure for this ##### disease.

Confusion

How can that be? After listening to the news tonight I am confused. While I look out the front window at green leaves the weather report is talking about snow. Leaves have not even begun to change color around here. I don't know how the leaves are above the 5000 to 6000 foot levels where snow is expected.