Sunday Stroke Survival ~ Writing After a Stroke

Jo Murphey
The Murphey Saga

Sunday, August 11, 2013

I think we are finally out of the woods for the time being. Until the next time. My husband's congestive heart failure and pneumonia are now a thing of the past and I'm not in constant vigilance mode. This morning he took his oxygen off and walked to the bathroom without getting deathly pale or severely out of breath. He even took the trash outside and came in only mildly out of breath. His color has gone from ashen gray to a ruddy, pale pink again. I'm so thankful for all the prayers.

I've been going around and round for the past few months and not accomplishing anything towards the forward progress of Don't Get Your Panties in a Wad. It is frustrating writing after a stroke. Sure, I can blog, but writing a book is different.

The muse just aren't with me when my focus is scattered in too many different directions. I used to call myself a master juggler. Not any more. It's tough tossing one ball in the air and catching it.

Could part of my problem be fear? Possibly. With two agents chomping at the bit trying to sign me up for this book and talk about an auction, the old fear of have I still got it comes into play. I've been analyzing everything as to why I've stopped writing this book. Maybe Alex's Insecure writer's group would help, but that's not the only reason.

As I mentioned Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak with a teenager doing her volunteer time in therapy before going to college for a PT license about writing and publishing. Did you know they have to log 100 hours volunteer in a PT/OT center before they can be accepted into school? I didn't until my stroke.

Anyhow getting back to this young girl, when she found out that I was a previously published author she lit up with excitement. She was writing a novel herself. Then we started talking about writing after a stroke. She couldn't understand what the difficulties were. Of course not. It's all about your point of view and experiences. There is no way a 17 year old girl is on an even playing field with me having grandchildren her age and recovering from a stroke.

So I broke it down for her.

• In writing you plot out your stories. It takes sequencing and linear thinking. Both of which were impaired with my stroke. Although I'm working at it, there is still a deficit.
• In writing you need command of the language you are writing in. I lost all fluency in languages except English, my third language. Spelling went out the window as did all but simple grammar. When before your stroke you were fluent in eight languages and you are left with one, it can be quite disheartening. Not to mention you are not even fluent in the language you are now speaking. This is evident by all the red and green squiggly line in what you are typing. It gets really irritating when you think you used to write 50-100K words in three months without either.
• In writing you need to be able to focus and not be scatter brained. Now with my "Dyslexic/ADD" any interruption is the death of whatever you had in your mind. That's me now since the stroke. 

So what's my problem now? I hit 37K words before this writing stoppage. It should be easier now that I've partially recovered what I lost, right?

Wrong. I managed to write so many words because I really did not have many demands on my time. Now, I'm driving, gardening, cooking and my husband's care issues has escalated. Marry that with the low energy levels that plague me, it spells disaster. My muse and desire to write hides under the bed whimpering like a dog during a thunder storm. When I ask my neurologist when can I expect my energy level to return to somewhat normal, I get the depends  and every stroke is different answer. At first she said after a year, but I'm there now with no return of my energy. If you don't know something, just say you don't know.

I still need a nap or two to get through the day depending on what's going on. Then I'm in bed sleeping by ten even with the naps. We're not talking about my old twenty minute power naps either. I'm talking a hour at least possibly three. Now admittedly, I am no longer leaving the therapy department with the vague sense of nausea and falling in bed on arrival home anymore, but on therapy days I'm done for anything more strenuous. I do my gardening, chicken and rabbit care before therapy because I won't have the energy afterwards..

In the old days, I used to build myself up to get more energy. Do one more set of ten or twenty in exercises, but a stroke is weird. The build up just doesn't work. Granted I'm better than I was a month after the stroke but less than 25% of my norm which isn't good. I watch my grands play nonstop and wonder the age old thought of if I could only bottle it, I'd be a millionaire. It's not like pain is draining my energy because the Botox injections knocked most of that out. 5-Hour Energy drink be damned. It doesn't work in this case. All it does is give me heart palpitations from too much caffeine.

So when will I finish this book? I dunno. I'm biding my time because eventually it's got to get better.

Nothing is impossible with determination.

8 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher August 11, 2013 said... Hi Jo - well all I can say is that you're doing great .. and thank goodness it was English that rose to the fore ... if you'd be posting in Dutch - I'd have been outta here!

But glad to read your hubby is feeling better, and thus you too - I'm sure that chat with the youngster will inspire her to many things in her life ... 

You're doing much more than most of us put together and coping .. all I can say is build one step at a time .. or write a story one story at a time ... 

Cheers for now - you've got it = nothing is impossible with determination .. so right. Hilary

Rebecca Dutton August 11, 2013 said... My first reaction was to tell you to give you self a break. When my husband had a heart attack I was lucky if I had the energy to undress before I went to bed.

Zan Marie August 11, 2013 said... Bless you, Jo! I do hope the girl heard what you said. Just keep plugging, but then I know you will. ; )

Cate Russell-Cole: Artios Communications August 11, 2013 said... Jo, I am late for the blitz, but very glad to be or I wouldn't have caught this post. Hang in there, take good care of yourself and keep your faith strong. Determination and the Father's strength behind you will indeed get you there.

May the Lord bless the desires of your heart.

J.L. Murphey August 12, 2013 said... Hilary- Actually Dutch wasn't one of my languages that I was fluent in, but my brother in law was teaching me. 

Rebecca- I think that was the main gist behind writing this was the break I was giving myself was too long. Or at least I feel it's too long--5 months worth.

Zan Marie- I am blessed.

Cate- Welcome aboard to the Murphey Saga.My faith is strong and steadfast.

Amy August 12, 2013 said... By like 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I have to lay down and close my eyes. I don't have a choice in the matter. It's unbelievably annoying, I hope that goes away in time. Glad your DH is doing better.

J.L. Murphey August 12, 2013 said... Amy, Since I usually wake up between 4 & 5AM, I have to lay down for at least an hour every 5 hours. Now if I am extremely active, it may be every 3-4 hours. No choice either. I've tried pushing the boundaries, but have failed.

SSTattler August 12, 2013 said... Hi Jo, I had a stroke more than 15 years ago so my perspective is a little different from yours i.e. 1 year from your stroke but your motto "Nothing is impossible with determination" is perfect. Just keep on the track and follow your motto. At first you have weird tasks, botox, napping, ... but eventually they will disappear and you will keep on writing. Call me in 2225 years in the future and you can tell me your progress. Meanwhile, at least **I will buy you book**, "Don't Get Your Panties in a Wad" so keep on writing and I'm sure it less than 2225!
Regards / John A.

See the original article:
      Sunday Stroke Survival ~ Writing After a Stroke
      in The Murphey Saga

Make ==> Good ==> Code: Johan Janssens at TEDxBKK

Published on Aug 12, 2013

A culture of peace through technology and free software Johan Janssens is a Belgian web architect, tech entrepreneur and free software advocate. He believes firmly in sharing and collaboration, in spreading good ideas and in the power of technology to make the world a better place. Johan is most know as co-founder of Joomla, an open source content management system used by more than 3% of all the sites on the internet.

Programming in the New Literacy.

"As programming becomes more important, it will leave the back room and become a key skill and attribute of our intellictual and social classes, just at reading and writing did in the past".
             -- Marc Prensky Programming Is the New Literacy.

 Learn more: http://about.me/johanjanssens.

SSTattler: 

1. I was the coder using Joomla for 1 year for Stroke Recovery Edmonton Assoc.  
   It was a nice language & Content Management System!
2. Watch out for young kids - they will know to type "code" when their still in diapers!
   Look at Mind Storms by Lego.

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RMR: Rick at Niagara College

Published on Mar 27, 2013

Rick visits the Teaching Winery and Teaching Brewery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.

SSTattler: Hmmm, I could have a degree in Prof. Brew Master... instead  I am a coder!


Standard YouTube License @ The Rick Mercer Report

Saturday Comics

For Better and For Worse
Lynn Johnston - 2008-07-24

"I shouldn't be going, Elly."

Dilbert
Scott Adams - 2013-08-05

"May we breathe this air on his planet?"

Garfield
Jim Davis - 2013-08-06

"Today we send a cat into space!"

Betty
Delainey & Rasmussen -2013-08-09

"If he wanted to throwing knives..."

  
*For Better and For Worse" is a serious topic of stroke but with a very nice cartoons. It is all about Grandpa Jim had a stroke and 88 further cartoon "strips" that happened to Grandpa Jim. See as well  the cartoonist Lynn Johnston.

** I tried to get low or free price at the people http://www.UniversalUclick.com/ for the images for the cartoons. It was too high for Stroke Survivors Tattler i.e. we are not a regular newspaper and our budget is very low. Fortunately, you will have to do only 1-click more to see the cartoon image, it is legit and it is free using GoComics.com and Dilbert.com.

*** Changed from "Pickles" to "Betty" -- "Betty" is a excellent cartoon and Gary Delainey & Gerry Rasmussen are authors/artists/cartoon-strips and they live in Edmonton.

Sunday Stroke Survival ~ Come On and Raise Your Hand

Jo Murphey
The Murphey Saga

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Okay all you strokies, a question or three for you. I picked up the term strokies from Amy's site and it has kind of stuck a chord in me.

1) How many of you are at least six months out from your stroke? I am raising my hand. Raise yours if this applies to you.

2) How many of you are still doing your OT/PT/Speech therapy routines? I am raising my hand and waving it wildly, but I am also seeing a few hands faltering and lowering out there.  Is it yours? Shame on you. 

3) Are you fully recovered or just at a state of acceptance that this is how you will be from now on? I'm not raising my hand to this one because I am not fully recovered and not accepting where I am, and neither should you.

I hear all you naysayers out there, "If you were five, ten, twenty years out from your stroke like I am you'd give up too." Nope, I don't think so. Here's why...

• The brain is constantly learning. Learning doesn't stop until you die. They've got this fancy word for it called neuro-plasticity. People will get smarter or stupider as time goes on and that takes brain power. To me death is the absence of learning. I am a forever student in this life.

• I'm too stubborn to give up. Yep that's right. There has never been a more mule headed person born than me and sometimes to my own detriment.

• I'm generous to a fault. I'd rather do without than anyone else. It's a point of view. It's not that I'm not worthy because I am, but more someone else's needs are greater than mine. There is always someone else who has it worse off than you and I am thankful it's not me. Is that wrong? Does that sound condescending? Maybe. I may gripe about my family because they are such a big part of my life and the turmoil they cause, but I let them cause it. There are others in this world who have family but they are not close and there are others who have no family at all. I am thankful. If I can't do then I can't do, and I can't accept that. It's that simple to me really.

• While I still have some paralysis and feeling loss from my stroke, I actually got off pretty light compared to some others. I didn't regain the use of my pre-stroke body, but I'm still able to care for myself and my husband with very little help from the outside world. That being said, I'm still not as self sufficient as I want to be. There are still a lot of things that I wish I could do again. I also believe it won't happen tomorrow and I may have to work years to achieve it.

• Anything you want is worth working for. In your job didn't you not have to go to college and learn a skill set? Okay some of you didn't go to to college but you still had to learn what was required for your job, didn't you? Didn't it take you years to learn that skill set? Therapy is the same way. It is repeating a set of skills over and over again. It doesn't matter if you fail the first time or the hundredth time. You are working towards a goal. To be whatever and be the best whatever you could be. Doesn't the same principles apply here? Each exercise you do and keep doing strengthens the pathways to repeat that action, and with time, it becomes as solid as the original ones. Yes it could take years before my light fluttering grip becomes strong enough to hold anything or do something productive with it, but it's a start. We all have to start somewhere and set an ultimate goal of what you want to accomplish.

• I am now talking about year goals instead of month or week goals. That's a change. For me, my goals for this year are to strengthen my ankle so it doesn't stay inverted and gain control of my fluttering grip so it won't take my entire body to do it.  

If it doesn't happen in 2013, then it becomes a goal for 2014 or 2024. Goal deadlines are flexible where  therapy exercises and recovery are concerned. The important thing to consider is looking how far you've come in the year. Surely in the year you tried to accomplish a goal, other things were accomplished. Revel in that. Celebrated your achievements no matter how small. They are a step in the right direction.

Now if you are totally satisfied in being how you are for the rest of your life, there's no hope for ya. This year is already halfway over but still on my list to achieve and goal setting, but I'm still reaching for the stars but with my feet firmly planted on the ground. I'm still intent on reaching my goals. How about you? Isn't there one thing you would like to do better? Just one?

Nothing is impossible with determination.

1 comment:

Amy August 4, 2013 said... If I could speak normally, I don't think I would hate it as bad as I do. I'm definitely not satisfied like this.

See the original article:

      Sunday Stroke Survival ~ Come On and Raise Your Hand

      from The Murphey Saga

TED & TEDx Explained

Published on Mar 28, 2012

TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere -- celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED's format and rules.

Watch the talks at tedxtalks.ted.com or find an event in your area at ted.com/tedx.


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Daniel H. Cohen: for Argument's Sake

Published on Aug 5, 2013

Why do we argue? To out-reason our opponents, prove them wrong, and, most of all, to win! ... Right? Philosopher Daniel H. Cohen shows how our most common form of argument -- a war in which one person must win and the other must lose -- misses out on the real benefits of engaging in active disagreement. (Filmed at TEDxColbyCollege.)

Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate.


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Solve It Immediately...

Jackie Poff
Stroke Survivors Tattler

This one is very simple - if you can't solve it immediately, you had better go back to school! I'm enrolling tomorrow …

Keep that brain working; try to figure this one out... See if you can figure out what these seven words all have in common?

    1. Banana
    2. Dresser
    3. Grammar
    4. Potato
    5. Revive
    6. Uneven
    7. Assess

Give it another try... Look at each word carefully. Remember I only sent this to my smart friends. Now don't let me down.

No, it is not that they all have at least 2 double letters....

Answer is below!

RMR: Rick at the GM Plant

Published on Mar 28, 2012

Rick builds new Camaros and then tests them at the Automotive Centre of Excellence in Oshawa, ON.


Standard YouTube License @ The Rick Mercer Report

Saturday Comics

For Better and For Worse
Lynn Johnston - 2008-07-23

"...that I'd find you two out here!"

Dilbert
Scott Adams - 2013-08-02

"...what they call humans who fail the Turing test?"

Garfield
Jim Davis - 2013-07-31

"...I can tell that Odie's been digging!"

Betty
Delainey & Rasmussen - 2013-08-02

"Summers are for learning impractical but cool..."

  
*For Better and For Worse" is a serious topic of stroke but with a very nice cartoons. It is all about Grandpa Jim had a stroke and 88 further cartoon "strips" that happened to Grandpa Jim. See as well  the cartoonist Lynn Johnston.

** I tried to get low or free price at the people http://www.UniversalUclick.com/ for the images for the cartoons. It was too high for Stroke Survivors Tattler i.e. we are not a regular newspaper and our budget is very low. Fortunately, you will have to do only 1-click more to see the cartoon image, it is legit and it is free using GoComics.com and Dilbert.com.

*** Changed from "Pickles" to "Betty" -- "Betty" is a excellent cartoon and Gary Delainey & Gerry Rasmussen are authors/artists/cartoon-strips and they live in Edmonton.

Rock'n August Events !

Jackie Poff
Stroke Survivors Tattler

Five days of activities begin early Tuesday morning at the St. Albert Inn when City TV kicks off Rock'n August with the Breakfast Television. Many of the classics that will be competing in Saturday's Show 'n Shine competition will be at this event. Each evening until Friday Night's Cruise and Street Dance different locations in St. Albert host an evening of classic car shows, community barbecues and musical entertainment. Friday night, the streets of St. Albert are packed with thousands of eager spectators viewing the 400 plus classic cars as they parade past City Hall. The party continues as the stage is filled with some of the best musical entertainment of the year. St. Albert’s Sturgeon River valley is home to the much anticipated Show 'n Shine that starts early on Saturday morning. The cars are parked and polished one more time awaiting the decision on who will walk away with the 2013 trophies and bragging rights to "Best in Show". Between 15,000 and 18,000 people attend the Show 'n Shine that has something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Start Tuesday Morning August 6th, 7-9AM

until

Saturday August 11th, 9:00pm to Midnight.

See the full article 2013 Rock'n August - Events ! 

A New Guest Blogger in SSTattler - Molly Clarke

Welcome Molly Clarke - See as well About Us.
SSTattler:  I will re-publish in September / 2013.

Guest Blogger - Molly Clarke

Molly Clarke
Social Security Disability Help

• I write for Social Security Disability Help in the U.S.A., a site that works to promote disability awareness and assist those throughout the Social Security Disability application process.
• S.S.D.H. offers a host of informational resources including an interactive disability forum, how-to’s, a Social Security Disability glossary and answers to frequently asked questions. 
• I'm a blogger who regularly cover issues that provides some tips on how to navigate the system.
• Please read my blog Social Security Disability Help or contact me at mac@ssd-help.org.

Sunday Stroke Survival ~ The Three Ps: Pee, Pads,and Pubic Hair

Jo Murphey
The Murphey Saga

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Being a lady, only lately, has incontinence been openly talked about. To me, nothing is totally sacred and taboo so I talk about it openly. Today there are a million commercials on television about urinary incontinence. Bladder control or uncontrolled is no longer a hush-hush subject. Although going out in public with urine soaked panties is still embarrassing. It's a dignity issue.

After a stroke, everyone sees the paralyzed limbs or hears the monotone or hesitant speech. But not many give thought to the unseen muscles that are paralyzed also within the body. The conscious effort a stroke survivor does to exercise these muscles to restore them or work around them like the throat, bowels, peritoneal, and the diaphragm. Those are are hidden inside. We strive for control and sometimes fail.

I make no secret about my urinary control issues over the past year and before. It's a natural process of the body and an integral functioning part. In computer lingo it's GIGO (garbage in garbage out). If you put food and liquids into the body it has to process the waste somehow.

I loss feeling or sensory deficits in very few places with my stroke and I am lucky. I didn't feel this way a year ago when I had my stroke, but now I'm grateful. Sure I walk around with the right side of my face full of Novocaine slightly wearing off. You know the sensation when it isn't the big lip but can't quite feel anything either. Yep that's the one. It make chewing an adventure. My coughing has changed. My husband who is 90% deaf can't hear me yell for help but comes running when I cough now from another room. I'll end up with bruises on my outer right leg and have no idea how I got them. But the most irritating loss is the sensation of having to pee without having to shift my body weight. Being unable to distinguish whether I have to urinate or defaecate is only a mild irritation since I'm on the commode already.

I transitioned from catheter to diapers to pads in a few short weeks. For this I'm forever thankful! Diane over at the Pink House blog still deals with these issues. While I may deal with these issues with my own DH (darling hubby), it's not a continuous issue like with her yet. She now blogs about clogged and catheter explosions.

I even save money buying menstrual pads now because of greater control. But have yet to transition to panties liners. Another huge step to work on. I still have the occasional accident but I am doing better. Now that I'm out and about more causes me to look where the bathrooms are anyplace I am to judge the distance, and the time needed to get there just in case.

With pads there are drawbacks because they really aren't meant to be worn day in and day out for a years. I've had diaper rashes because of the waterproof liners. While my children were in diapers they occasionally experienced this problem. I would coo and commiserate with their pain as I treated it. I was too young to remember my own bouts.

Until recently that is. Is anything more uncomfortable than a burning, itching, painful rash between the legs? Do you run to the doctor for it? Would you have someone else apply diaper rash medicine? It hurts to sit. It hurts to stand. It hurts when taking a step. It even hurts when you are lying down. Yeah some of you know what I'm talking about. The rest of you are just lucky. I recently saw a commercial for Balmex for adults. What a relief! It's not only me! If they are advertising it there must be millions.

The last thing in the title I wanted to address is pubic hair. (No, I wouldn't think about adding a picture) Yes, this is a risque subject sort of, but hey, I have very few taboos. Over at Amy Shissler's stroke blog earlier this month there was an interesting discussion on gray hair that took a turn to hilarious thanks to Barb Polan, Dean and I. The discussion turned from Amy finding her first gray hair, she's only 32, to balding, to finding your first gray pubic hair. I mentioned that the adhesive strips on my pads have made bald patches on my pubis. Why pay out huge amounts of money for bikini waxes...just get pads. The adhesive strips on those things will pull out hair follicles! So save money and use pads!

Yes, I'm starting a new trend... the polka dotted pub.

Nothing is impossible with determination.

See the original article:

      Sunday Stroke Survival ~ The Three Ps: Pee, Pads,and Pubic Hair

      from The Murphey Saga

Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Cloudy With a Chance of Joy

Published on Jul 16, 2013
SSTattler: I know my job in the evening....!

You don't need to plan an exotic trip to find creative inspiration. Just look up, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. As he shares charming photos of nature's finest aerial architecture, Pretor-Pinney calls for us all to take a step off the digital treadmill, lie back and admire the beauty in the sky above.

Cloud Appreciation Society founder Gavin Pretor-Pinney shows how seemingly idle pursuits provide unexpected paths to appreciating overlooked wonders.


Standard YouTube License @ TEDtalksDirector

Sleepy Man Banjo Boys: Bluegrass Virtuosity from ... New Jersey?

Published on Jul 5, 2013

http://www.ted.com/ All under the age of 16, brothers Jonny, Robbie and Tommy Mizzone are from New Jersey, a US state that's better known for the rock of Bruce Springsteen than the bluegrass of Earl Scruggs. Nonetheless, the siblings began performing bluegrass covers, as well as their own compositions, at a young age. Here, they play three dazzling songs in three different keys, passing the lead back and forth from fiddle to banjo to guitar.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.

Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate

A Few of Many Top Comments:

Johnny Bravo I'd like to say they are born talented, but the odds that all three brothers are "born" talented isn't as believable as saying that all three boys worked hard to achieve this level of skill. In other words, I think "talent" is an arbitrary name for passion and dedication. Oh hell, these boys are damn talented!
William DSR Unbelievable. I bet they have amazing parents.
David S VPA I've decided not to make a comeback after watching talent like this
travelingduck5 wow that is truly and amazing talent !!!!
Raphael Noz They're playing way too fast. Hopefully, they'll mellow with age- but they're good!
bobmoore20 god damn, I wish I had a spoon and a washboard lol
cobaltbroker You guys are AMAZING! My soul bleeds bluegrass and I could listen all day... from Nashville TN... foot-stomp'in good!
...

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Rick Mercer: Toyota Funster

Uploaded on Jul 28, 2010

Tired of boring, old, responsive cars? 

Standard YouTube License @ The Rick Mercer Report

Saturday Comics

For Better and For Worse
Lynn Johnston - 2008-07-22

"It's good to see you outside, Jim!"

Dilbert
Scott Adams - 2013-07-26

"You failed the online ethics course for..."

Garfield
Jim Davis - 2013-07-25

"Ants have eaten all of our tofu!"

Betty
Delainey & Rasmussen - 2013-07-26

"I think you have the makings of a hoarder!"

  
*For Better and For Worse" is a serious topic of stroke but with a very nice cartoons. It is all about Grandpa Jim had a stroke and 88 further cartoon "strips" that happened to Grandpa Jim. See as well  the cartoonist Lynn Johnston.

** I tried to get low or free price at the people http://www.UniversalUclick.com/ for the images for the cartoons. It was too high for Stroke Survivors Tattler i.e. we are not a regular newspaper and our budget is very low. Fortunately, you will have to do only 1-click more to see the cartoon image, it is legit and it is free using GoComics.com and Dilbert.com.

*** Changed from "Pickles" to "Betty" -- "Betty" is a excellent cartoon and Gary Delainey & Gerry Rasmussen are authors/artists/cartoon-strips and they live in Edmonton.

Sunday Stroke Survival ~ What Can a Limited Mobility Person Do?

Jo Murphey
The Murphey Saga

Sunday, July 21, 2013

As I sit here in front of my computer I ponder what a difference a little over a year makes once again. On my calendar the date is circled in red with blue stars and no, not for the belated 4th of July weekend. I had written in "Moving Day."

No this isn't mine but close

(Hitting the rewind button on my tape player) Today was the date we'd set to move our tiny house on wheel onto our property to begin homesteading our compound. Even though it would only be part-time for the next six months. We had planned to start constructing the out buildings like the chicken house and pens.

Now this house plan sits idle with just the stack of recycled lumber and the 8x12 trailer frame sitting in my side yard still waiting to be completed. Where did I get recycled lumber from? Two places. My 12 x 22 foot playhouse was torn down because of flood water damage and was replaced, and my son in law is a contractor. There are all sorts of goodies he found for the project like doors and windows, and a host of electrical equipment which would have gone to a landfill somewhere because someone was upgrading or there just wasn't enough for another large building job.

I had some shingles leftover from the original playhouse which was slated for my roof. I searched high and low for apartment sized electric appliances because most RV equipment runs off propane and I didn't want to go that route. My tiny house was to be solar and wind powered. There was to be a gutter rain water catch system similar to the one installed in my home. The master bed would be a futon with a thick, cushy mattress on the ground floor instead of in the loft and the loft area would be storage. That's the plan anyhow.

(My tape player makes a funny sound as I quickly punch the stop button and fast forward to the present.) All of that changed with my stroke. As I said all of it is sitting under cover waiting for me to get my arm back enough to do the work involved. Maneuvering around the tiny space will not be a problem. In fact, it would be easier than my home. I just have to build it. Yes, I could get my son in law and grandsons build it for me, but I want to build it myself with their help...it's a goal to work towards.

In the meantime work continues on the property. Three wells have been dug to various levels depending on the use. Livestock, laundry, and gardens don't need to thirty-foot wells for pure water like humans prefer. The shallow wells all have hand pumps. Our "little" family did that by hand a weekend at a time. Three more deep wells are planned.

The pond is finished and complete with a solar powered aeration pump. Duck weed is growing by leaps and bounds uneaten by fish and livestock yet, and the snails are healthy so my organic fish/swimming pond is ready to go. The baby bass and brim are on order for stocking it. The stumps have been cleared for six home sites. Although only one is needed right now for one daughter and her family. My husband and I plan on staying in our tiny house. It's just moving at a much slower pace than I want it to.

Yes, God is working on my impatience issues. I just wish He'd hurry up. Still I'm still working on researching various aspects of homesteading. Currently it is hydroponics for the greenhouse, another out building on hold. Obtaining knowledge, and the trial and error period is done before we move onto the compound. Once we go off grid, that's it. The only concession is the need for modern medicine, but in a pinch I've got substitutes for almost anything.

Yes, that's free pallets and a tarp

I really don't want large animals like cows and horses. They are just too expensive to maintain and I really don't like the idea of a large animal knocking me off my feet. Ducks and chickens for eggs, and meat. With the added benefit of free organic fertilizer. They even partially till the soil with their scratching and keep the bug population down. Two of my daughters have already started raising their flocks of layers and meat.

Rabbits for meat and fur for sweaters. Ooh! Angora sweaters!  Angoras and other breeds are in the hutches waiting for the move. I haven't figured out a way to knit one-handed but then I haven't tried either. The ultimate in luxurious warmth. Hey, just because I'm homesteading doesn't mean I can't have creature comforts and be stylish too.

Goats for milk, cheese and meat. With the goats you get the added benefit that they will clean out the undergrowth and keep the grassy areas clipped. Everything has dual or triple purposes. I haven't gotten the goats yet because of my stroke and a limit on how much I can do in an urban setting.

So what can a person with limitations, like me, do? Anything I darn well please to do with adjustments.

• How about home schooling the rugrats? I do hold a degree in education up to middle school. But a degree isn't necessary.
• Teaching other adults how to prepare food for long term storage or homesteading.
• How about all those free range, organically fed eggs? We can only eat so many at a time. Someone has to negotiate with stores and set delivery schedules.
• Being a chef once upon a time, I did a lot of butchering. Deer meat, chickens, ducks, and goats all need to be processed. Notice I don't mention pigs...one daughter and I are allergic to pork. 
• I can fish with some assistance with baiting and unhooking the fish. That's what I have grandchildren for. <big, fat grin> 
• While I may be limited in motion, I guarantee I can still supervise and teach. 
• I can feed and care for my chickens and rabbits. Although I need assistance with the slaughter. That's a two-handed job.
• Think of creative recycling projects. Nothing goes to waste.
• I still can harvest eggs and cook.
• I am a survivalist at heart.

I really don't like being limited. Who does? But there is still plenty I can and will do. I'm just spreading my wings this year. I might take flight next year or the year after.

Nothing is impossible with determination.

See the original article:

      Sunday Stroke Survival ~ What Can a Limited Mobility Person Do?

       From The Murphey Saga

Moving More may Lower Stroke Risk

Jeff Porter
Stroke of Faith

Thursday, July 25, 2013

A regular visitor to this blog won't be surprised - exercise is good for you!

I regularly run 4-10 miles - occasionally longer - and now, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggests that moving more may lower stroke risk:

• The findings revealed that regular, moderately vigorous exercise, enough to break a sweat, was linked to reduced risk of stroke. Part of the protective effect was due to lower rates of known stroke risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity and smoking.
• “Our results confirm other research findings but our study has the distinct advantage of including larger numbers, especially larger numbers of women as well as blacks, in a national population sample so these provide somewhat more generalizable results than other studies,” said Virginia Howard, Ph.D., senior author of the study from the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

"Enough to break a sweat" is a good measure for exercise, at least in my experience. And it makes sense that exercise will help address high blood pressure and help with other key stroke risk factors.

Walking is a good start - cheap exercise most people can do.

(Photo from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

See the original article:
      Moving More may Lower Stroke Risk
      from Stroke of Faith

Antonio Damasio: The Quest to Understand Consciousness

Uploaded on Dec 19, 2011
SSTattler: Great lecture! I will re-publish sometime in the fall.

http://www.ted.com Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self.

Antonio Damasio's research in neuroscience has shown that emotions play a central role in social cognition and decision-making. His work has had a major influence on current understanding of the neural systems, which underlie memory, language, consciousness.

Antonio Damasio is a leader in understanding the biological origin of consciousness. He also argues that emotions, far from being barriers to it, are a crucial component of decision-making. He is founder and director of the USC Brain and Creativity Institute, which draws on partners across academic disciplines to use the explosion of new neuroscience results to tackle issues from mental health to societal and global change.

Damasio is the author of Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain, which was adapted into a musical composition performed by Yo-Yo Ma at the American Museum of Natural History.


Standard YouTube License @ TED Talks