UPDATE!

Ok, I'm proud to report that I am AOK and alive. As evidenced by my lack of posts I had a very VERY lazy August. One bright spot is I did a little post for Erase MS a few weeks ago regarding the readathon that I like to participate in and I am happy to say that the readathon is back for October. On October 13th Deweys 24 hour readathon is back, it isn't necessary to do the whole thing but it's fun to try. I do my part in the readathon to raise Multiple sclerosis awareness, it's quite a feat considering that I have cognitive issues and I can have minor vision issues related to fatigue. Nothing should be impossible so I will be doing my part to SAFELY bring MS awareness and remind MSers to not be scared of books! I invite you to check them out here Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon!

Learning

At times I tend to be a silent grumpy lump, lucky for me simple t-shirts can be a great tool for outreach. I was at a hamburger shop this afternoon and I was wearing one of my favorite MS T-shirts and I made a new friend. I met an MSer that has been kicking her MS' ass for 13 years. My new friend looks very strong and very fit, she served as a good inspiration to me and I thought that encounter can serve as inspiration to others. My shirt made me stand out to another MSer, and it also reminded me that I should be more vocal, I tend to sink into the background too much, I lucked out because my shirt became a conversation starter. 

A T-SHIRT CAN BE A GOOD CONVERSATION STARTER

I plan on being an elderly man one day and if I can tackle my MS the way that my new friend has then it won't be that bad. I got my shirt from THEMSSHOPPE I have to note that my new friend is probably younger than me, she's a mom, a wife, (as well as an MSer) again, I just use this as an example to us all to remember that we can still win! 

Happy March!

In many states across the US, March is observed as MS Awareness Month, Having MS and viewing visual aids such as the one to the side help me to remember that I'm only human and that I should get back on track "agenda"wise with my blog. I'm reminded of the Charles Barkley commercial from the 90s the famous "I am not a Role Model" from Nike, in regards to holding myself up to some unseen standard for my behavior on Facebook and  this blog. My behavior or rather my feelings of being ignored or unnoticed are just typical for mood or minor depression, the only thing I could tell you the reader is that I will try to be on the ball a bit more

I am aware that I'm not a role model or even a spokesperson, but I can still try to be a friend, Hi! My name is Ricky

toot my own horn?

I like sharing on this blog, the fact that I share information makes me happy. When I'm offered the opportunity to post or guest-blog at another blog I take advantage of it. Last week an original posting of mine(not featured here first) was featured on the Erase MS blog. I shared my own experiences kind of like I do here. It's nice to be recognized for something you do but in the long run I just try to share here just to try and speak with my fellow MSers, (I'd say commiserate but that involves pity and I don't like that) I also try not to get a swelled head, offering guidance to someone who was just diagnosed (last week or whenever) doesn't make a an MS Yoda it just makes me a possible friend (to someone).

http://erasems.org/news/2011/oct/20/multiple-sclerosis-manly-disease-guest-blog/

my readathon retrospect

well first and foremost I had fun, that should be the key ingredient/motivation for anyone to take on this challenge. It takes a certain amount of discipline to do this as well. I just double checked my stats, I lasted two hours longer on this challenge than I did in last April's challenge, that's not terribly important but the only reason I brag about it is in having MS I'm very prone to fatigue. It's a miracle I stayed as alert as I did for as long as I did.

I didn't read my WHOLE book but I got damn close to it. Out of the book I chose two stories, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body". It helped me visualize especially since these stories were featured as movies. Of the two I enjoyed "The Body" most. It involves the adult recollections of Gordon Lachance and how he and his friends set out to see a dead body just before Labor Day in 1960. I have quite a few other King books which I think might be next on my reading list.

To my fellow Read-a-thoners I say see in six months!

To my fellow MSers, keep safe and painfree and keep reading!

read-a-thon post 3

I'm slowly plugging away taking my MS into consideration, the story is short but I'm a slow reader MS or no MS. But I'm near the end, so far the book is giving me a broader depth of the movie. One thing that I do like that movie changed was the character of Red being an older black male while in the book he sounds like he's white (from his red hair), not being critical, just love Morgan Freeman in that role

 I'm enjoying a warm Florida fall day and I've had some hummus and pita chips for lunch.

optimism

if there's one thing that I try to hammer home through this blog and through Facebook is that I do not tolerate negativity. To combat that I try to be vocal and vigilant when I see someone that may be showing signs of depression. I try to share information as I come across it and I try (on facebook) to share some laughs. For me optimism is difficult but VERY do-able, this past week I was informed that my blood work related to my tysabri infusions showed that I show the antibodies for the JC Virus. I am not worried, a few of my fellow "tysabrians" have shown the same result but like me are continuing with the treatment. having the antibodies present doesn't mean that one HAS the virus but that they should be monitored closely. I also try to be optimistic when it comes to the naysayers that think I'm crazy for choosing to continue on my treatment.