David & Deirdre's Life Journey

good stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:15:00 +0000

I have a shop here:
http://blackbird72.etsy.com

So, I'm asking you as a fellow creative kindred people, to help me to reach out and ask others to sponsor, donate and or have people in my area to walk with me in the MS Walk 2008 at the Rose Bowl on April 6th, 2008. It's not a race, it's a 5K(3 mile) walk, if I can do it, so can others ;) This event is family friendly with food at the finish line.

I refuse to let it get the best of me, my life or those I love! grrrrr! LOLOLOL

I have set aside certain pieces in my shoppe where a portion of the sales will go directly towards my team goal of $5,000.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5428689&section_id=5282940

I submitted an article to my best friend, Vanessa Holt, the Managing Editor of The Bordentown Register News in New Jersey(my hometown), and she published it.

To view it go to the link:
http://www.pacpub.com/articles/2008/02/20/the_register_news/your_views/doc47b45df048d3e075241717.txt

I volunteered my services last year to help in photographing the event, yes, i walked AND shot pictures!
http://www.deirdreryan.com/portfolios/Pages/ms_walk_2007.html
Happily I will be doing the same again this year:)

So please, I need help, for donations, team members, anything, nothing is too small or large :D

Help this Blackbird to fly!

i have so much to think about today.

i recently got some sad news mixed in with positive news from a good friend. in her case it's hard to be positive, yet she is doing just that. when she reads this blog, she will know that i find her a true inspiration :)

today, i sold 2 sets of postcards for my ms walk fundraising. a portion of the sales from the ms walk section of my shop will go towards it.

i'm exhausted, yet i feel like i accomplished a lot. yesterday i decided that i will finally do weddings. people have told me for years that i should, good money and that i would be very good at it.

so i revamped my site(again) and added a wedding section(with prices), added maternity photos from a session, and raised my portrait session fees.

i still don't have a new printer, yet tomorrow i meet with the tax lady, so i'm being positive :D

tonight is a full lunar eclipse, it's hard to see from where we live as its pretty cloudy, but from what i can see, it's just gorgeous :D

this makes me happy and it will make you happy too!

Peace and Many Blessings!

For The Love Of Oscar!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:56:00 +0000

FOR THE LOVE OF OSCAR! A CCCOE STREET TEAM CONTEST!
A PROMOTIONAL EVENT WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN PRIZES VALUED AT OVER
$300 EACH!!

California is the home of the Oscars, and what better way to get into
the spirit of this prestigious event than to indulge in some of the
finer things in life? The California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) is
a group of artists based in California that all have shops on the
Etsy.com website. What is Etsy? Etsy is a place to buy and sell ALL
things handmade, directly from the artists themselves.

The purpose of this promotion is to expose people to the amazing
talent that the Golden State has to offer. We are having a HUGE sale
that runs from February 10th-24th. By making a purchase of a sale
item you are automatically entered into our PRIZE drawings for two
swag bags of items that are valued over $300 each and growing!!
Prizes are
still being added to the SWAG bags on a daily basis!

Each purchase gets you another entry for the grand prize and there are
only TWO winners, so shop to your heart's content! Only purchases
of "FOR THE LOVE OF OSCAR" sale items qualify. Winners will be
notified Monday February 25th.

The Scoop:

When - February 10-24
Where - http://tinyurl.com/2smj6u - this
link will take you to the
items that are on SALE!
For more information and to see the PRIZES go to
http://www.californiacraftersclubofEtsy.blogspot.com

a lot going on here

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:03:00 +0000

as you can see by my other blog. but in case you didn't here's a recap:

my large printer is busted. i need to get the printer head replaced, a.k.a get a new printer. it sucks and there's nothing that i can do about it, but generate more sales to my etsy store
http://blackbird72.etsy.com
and sell what i have already. i really need to sell my larger framed pieces. at $200 a pop, even with a portion going towards the MS Walk, i will be able to afford a new printer.

so i'm doing what i can not to get too run down about it. in the meantime, i can have stuff printed at a lab, but not quite the way i prefer.

i have some film that i need to use up, so i've been shooting with my film cameras a bit. also been going through old negs and scanning them.

here are some samples of my newest stuff:

below are from my holga film camera, happy accidents i call them when i get continuous double exposures :D

i have some props to use as a photo project idea, just need to find time to do it without jayden needing my attention ;)

dave and i have been working with a client named frank. i just designed his business card, set him up with a website domain and host. used a template from godaddy.com to get him on the right track so that he can add/delete from home. dave's been working on his reel to add to the site as well.

speaking of dave, he's working hard as usual, keeping an eye open for better gigs. the film he's been cutting is so almost done we can all taste it!

i added new stuff to my site:
http://www.deirdreryan.com
but here is a taste of my most recent photo shoot:

ok, thats it for now :D

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:27:00 +0000

i've been posting on my new blog:
http://positivethinkingeveryday.blogspot.com/

sure i can still rant and bitch, it's our God Given Right as humans.

BUT

this is supposed to be my year....year of the rat. so while my daughter calmly drags a heavy wooden chair with her seat in it to her play area in the hall(yeah shes supa strong, like bull!), i've also been networking like a mad woman for my business.

holidays were great, but i really miss home and the east coast. keegan's got the right idea! i miss my parents and i have come to realize that i need to be home closer to family and friends that will be able to help me out more. my fatigue is getting worse, although i have some good days.

i am doing my very best to get work done here, but frankly, i need daily help. my family has found me help twice a week at their expense for a cleaning lady who is a SAINT! i am dog dead tired before noon and my strength isn't what it was last year.

tomorrow i have a shoot(for free, yet again) but its in the spirit of paying it forward. a group pf photographers and i are spreading good karma in the hopes of making this a very good year.

so if you want to see how i really am, check out my other blog:
http://positivethinkingeveryday.blogspot.com/

ok, more funny shit fo yo will be arriving shortly ;)

dad sells son's xmas gift on ebay after catching him smoking pot!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 16:07:00 +0000

here is the listing c/p in case it ends without you getting a chance to check it out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Guitar-Hero-III-3-Legends-of-Rock-Wii-NEW-WITH-RECEIPT_W0QQitemZ200181539427QQihZ010QQcategoryZ62053QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

BRAND NEW Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock for the Nintendo Wii Game System

In Box Never Opened, just bought it a few days ago I will give you the receipt (shown in picture)!

Here’s the deal:

So I spent who knows how many hours of my life trying to get “Guitar Hero 3” for the Nintendo Wii for my 15 year old son who has been begging for it since he was born (well not really but he’s wanted it for awhile). So after waiting in lines and going into every game store in the city over the last 2 weeks (practically being laughed at when I asked for guitar hero 3) I finally got lucky and got one at EB Games (they just got a shipment of them 25 minutes before I walked in!).

So I was so relieved in that I had finally got the Holy Grail of Xmas presents pretty much just in the nick of time. I couldn’t wait to spread the jubilance to my son.

Then, yesterday, I came home from work early and what to I find? My innocent little boy smoking pot in the backyard with 2 of his delinquent friends.

Now I know santa applies the “naughty or nice” paradigm to determine who gets what on Christmas. My son (Isaac) hasn’t exactly been Mother Teresa this year (he got suspended for fighting in the spring, among other things) but I thought I could still justify getting him this present. Maybe it would make him stay home more and “rock out” on this fake guitar thing. He pretty much spends all his free time at his friend’s house playing it anyways (while high on marijuana, I would imagine).

Anyways, I am now finding it hard to justify rewarding him with this gift after he so greatly disappointed me. I know smoking a joint isn’t the end of the world, but if you can convince me that he deserves the gift, then I will end the auction. You will have to be very convincing. I am an elementary school teacher and I know that rewarding bad behavior is just asking for more of the same…

After I caught him getting high on my patio I did the typical yelling, screaming, kicking out the friends, etc… but I had not decided on a suitable way to punish him. As of the time of me writing this, he does not know I got him Guitar Hero 3. I will show him the auction once it is posted and we can watch it finish together. Sort of a “Father-Son bonding experience”. While I doubt this will keep him from ever smoking pot again, I think it will make him think twice before doing illegal (well I think pot is still illegal in Canada) drugs on my property.

I am still considering getting him a game for his Nintendo. Maybe something like Barbie as the Island Princess or Dancing With the Stars. These games are in stock everywhere I go, and I know he will just love them.

Merry Xmas Isaac. I hope you’ve learned your lesson. –Father.

BRILLIANT!

Created a New Positive Thinking Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:09:00 +0000

http://positivethinkingeveryday.blogspot.com

Pushing On For The Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:23:00 +0000

Repost from one of my many networking sites:

Hi everyone!

I'm a photographer here in downtown Los Angeles and I offer on site portrait sessions. I can bring my studio lights or we can work with natural lighting.

http://www.deirdreryan.com

My session fees are low, but that will not last. Take advantage now :)

Portrait Referral Program
If you refer someone, you will receive one 8x10 OR two 5x7 prints free at the completion of their order. Your free print(s) can be used to receive additional print from your past session or you can use them toward your next session.

There is no limit to how many free prints you can receive. This is just my way of saying thank you for giving me the honor to photograph you and/or family.

I also offer wallets, square and large format prints, gallery wrapped canvas, custom holiday photo cards, and photo gifts. All prints are offered in a luster or glossy finish.

I have set up an online proofing and purchasing site:
http://deirdreryanphotography.PhotoReflect.com

Here you can view your proofs, order what you like, and you can also order gift certificates. Your order comes directly to you from the lab, no need to go out and pick anything up!

Among my other services, I also do product photography, perfect for those that want to focus more on their passion and just don't have the time to shoot their own products. Let me do it for you and your products will look great for your website or print campaign!

Do you have a family heirloom photo that you would like to have saved? I offer digital restoration as well. These make timeless gifts!

I also have an Esty shop:
http://blackbird72.etsy.com
Purchase a framed piece and a portion will be donated to the 2008 MS Walk :D

Contact me at deirdrer@deirdreryan.com and set up your appt now to get your photo session and holiday cards and gifts out on time.

Thank you for checking me out and if there is anything you want and do not see, contact me and lets work together and get creative!

give the love to john stone now....

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:37:00 +0000

i saw this post on myspace from john:

"It’s a long story, but now it’s finally over.

Rest in peace mom. You'll never know how much you'll be missed. I love you, and will always miss you.

Theresa Joan Brooks 1953-2007

A great woman, with massive potential, too bad she never saw it in time.
Live through your heart, and only your heart, or you will miss the point."

LOVE this blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:54:00 +0000

http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com

check it out!

-deirdre

big decks

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:44:00 +0000

there was another one, but i can't seem to find it....

ron jeremy spoofing britney spears

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:31:00 +0000

funny stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:25:00 +0000

here's the blog:
http://blog.despair.com/

images from:
http://www.despair.com

check out my gnarly welt!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:44:00 +0000

today was my first copaxone injection. i used to be on betaseron, but it was making my feel like shite. i hope and pray that this will work out for me.

check out the injection reaction site....gnarly, huh? bugger stung and itched, but after applying some ice to "the wound" it got better. but the welt is still there, pretty red, i think it'll be there until at least tomorrow.

i inject every day. i need to inject in a different site every day. the sites are:
arms, upper thighs, abs, and my sides, right about the hip bones.

first copaxone injection

got my list and checking it twice

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:42:00 +0000

i belong to a MOMSclub and during the larchmont fair, i donated a gift certificate for them to raffle off for their fundraiser. a lot of people apparently bought tickets just for it. it includes:
1 photo session on location
2 8x10s
2 5x7s
6 4x6s
8 wallets
25 holiday cards w/envelopes

my out of pocket cost is very low, but i had to do this to gain some sort of exposure.

the woman who won her appt is this sunday. i still need to figure out baby sitting, but it should work out. anything outside of the gift cert. she needs to purchase.

so this is my check list:

3 dynalite 2040 heads
1 dynalite 4040 head
1 dynalite "vintage" 805 power supply pack
1 long out/indoor grounded ext cord
1 wireless sync
1 cabled sync(just in case)
1 pack of 7" grid discs
2 softbox speed rings
1 16x20 softbox
1 24x30 softbox
6 sandbags(about 10lbs each)
1 bogen tripod with 3-position head
1 reflector arm
4 light stands
1 backdrop stand
2 double sided reflectors
1 tube of rosco gels
1 roll of blue gaffer's tape(easier to see)
4+ industrial clips
1 rosco cinefoil piece
1 12' standard grey paper background
1 canon 20d with vertical grip/battery pack
4 compact flash cards totaling in 6 gigs of memory
4 canon batteries with charger
1 18-200 mm f5.6 tamron lens
1 11-19 f5.6 tamron lens
1 minolta IV light meter
1 macbook laptop w/blank dvd's and other laptop nessesicites(sp)
1 husband to assist me

normally, my gear fits in my car with a 9' paper background. but since my rear window to my station wagon doesn't open separately, we will be using dave's wagon.

my 3-2040 dynalite heads fit in this tool chest

my tripod, portable background stand and softboxs

my "vintage" dynalite 805 power supply pack, plugged in. never use a power supply if it has not been activly used in a couple of months or more. you could do damage to it and your lights. always plug it to an active power outlet first for at least 24 hours prior to using.

the rest of my geat and the 4040 dynalite head

cupcakes are killing our children!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:11:00 +0000

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=127672&title=cupcakes

for some reason i can't get the video to embed sorry :(

happy halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:19:00 +0000

this one's for devo!

this is for joe!

go here to see more http://my.mmoabc.com/article/Nik88/2052/Cool-Halloween-Pumpkins.html?login=n

not from the site but we're BSG fans :)

my mom called and wished me a happy birthday and i wished her one too :) i opened the presents she got for me and i got cool earrings and jerseygirl ocean city stuff that i liked over the summer :)

dave's card was awesome and in it was a picture of the gift that will arrive next week :) i got an appliance! woohoo! i asked for it and it's this:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Cuisinart-DGB600BC-Grind-and-Brew-Coffee-Maker/703605/product.html

i'm really surprised :D i cannot WAIT for it to come in!

we're seeing the devo family later today for a halloween thing in burbank. dave got the night off, so this is nice for a change :D

yesterday i went to a playdate thing with jayden. i joined the mom club for the mid wilshire area. i actually met them on the MS walk. melissa, one of the members, she has MS too and so she is my main reason for joining. she has 2 kids and is also on copaxone. she has a nanny help her even though she's at home with the kids.

so the playgroup is called frogs and tadpoles, and we met over in koreatown, only a mile away. it was a lot of fun, got to meet the other moms and their kids that were in jayden's age group. she wore her costume and she'll wear again tonight too :) here we are as we were about to leave:

here are yer damn cookies! LOL

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:09:00 +0000

my birthday gift..copaxone

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:25:00 +0000

so the betaseron was making me like shit every other day or more. plus it left red "chemical" burns on my injection sites and those will take a while to heal and go away.

so dr. orfuss is putting me on copaxone. it's an every day injection and is supposed to be more tolerable than betaseron.
http://www.copaxone.com/

my EEG is actually on monday the 5th. my doc and i talked about it. and he's concerned, very concerned about my seizures, twitching, inability to talk when it's happening, etc. he asked again what kind of falls i had while training for show jumping. some i thought weren't so bad, might be causing these to happen. but we can't be so sure just yet.

ok, i'm tired, i would rather be taking pictures or playing outside with jayden. but the air quality sucks the big one. you can barely make out the downtown skyline from my place and i'm not even half a mile from the center either.....

on turning 35, yet another milestone in life

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:33:00 +0000

image courtesy of: http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/rollingacres/1250/nature/nature06.html
image courtesy of: http://www.bostontours.us/tours/tourType.cfm?ttid2=1051
image courtesy of: www.usawaterquality.org

to be perfectly honest, i haven't' really thought much about it recently. i mean, i thought i would have at least 2 kids by now, a well established photo career and owning a house, and have had our student loans paid off.

now, i just hope that dave can get a night off and the 3 of us have a nice halloween day with dinner. i don't even really know where to take jayden. she has the cutest little witch costume:D i cannot wait to put it on her and take pictures!!!!

i just wish the weather was much, much cooler, feeling more like fall. i love to wear sweaters and bundle up with a blanket on the couch and read a good book. this warm weather is just not for me....i do better in the cold :D dave calls me a new england "blue-blood" since my hands and feet run cold ;) my dad's side of the family sleeps with the indoor temps set at 60 degrees in the winter time...ahhhh!

the best was when i was in college in beverly, ma, was after classes to go off to one of the local beaches or take a drive all throughout the cape ann areas. i just enjoyed having my sunroof open, music blaring and just enjoying the crisp air and scenery. the beaches were pretty quiet, no one around so that you could just sit by yourself and listen to mother nature.

i miss that very much....

been busy and this is why

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:45:00 +0000

i have been working my ass off revamping my site, if you didn't see the email, and see this first, well yeah :) i'm pretty excited that i can now upload proofs for clients to see and they can also purchase prints directly from the site and they get shipped directly to them from the lab.

Here's what I wrote:

With the holidays coming up, I am taking appts now to shoot, prep and send out work. If you are looking for someone or know of anyone who needs a photographer, please, please, send them my way. I also can work remotely for digital restoration of old family photos:
http://www.deirdreryan.com/portfolios/Pages/digital_restoration.html
http://www.deirdreryan.com/digital_retouching_%26_restoration_faqs.html
and small e-commerce businesses:
http://www.deirdreryan.com/pricing.html

I have added an exciting feature, I can now upload proofs online and the client can view and purchase what they want and the products go directly to them from the photo lab.

http://deirdreryanphotography.PhotoReflect.com

Here are the products I offer so far:
-Prints from wallets up to 24x30 printed on Kodak Glossy or Lustre finishes.
-Raw(not stretched) and Gallery Wrapped Canvas Prints
-Photo mugs, coasters,puzzles,tote bag,Short/long sleeved photo shirts, and ceramic ornaments
-4x8 holiday cards that include envelopes

If you need larger prints or panoramic sized prints, just ask me and I can get that for you :) Your images, once uploaded, are password protected. I will send you an email once they are complete and will also give you the password.

I also have a referral program. If you refer someone, you will receive one 8x10 OR two 5x7 prints free at the completion of their order. Your free print(s) can be used to receive additional print from your past session or you can use them toward your next session. There is no limit to how many free prints you can receive. This is just my way of saying thank you for giving me the honor to photograph you and/or family.

Please, feel free to forward this to other family members, co-workers, friends, whomever :) Help support a working mom :) And keep in mind that the holidays are coming up quickly, so book your appt/send your old photo/send your products over ASAP :) LOL

Now the thing that pains me to say is this:
For my family and friends,
I simply cannot afford to do freebies anymore. This for me sucks as I love you all so much. We offer each other so much love and support. I want you all to have pictures shot by me, but I just cannot afford to give out free stuff anymore. Basically, I need some paying clients before I can afford to do certain things :(

I am so sorry everyone!!!!

Other things have come up with my health. I was visiting with my friend, Kristen and her two sons with Dave and Jayden. I suddenly felt nauseous(and you who know me know that never happens to me) and I started to twitch and shake on my right side and I couldn't talk. Last time this happened i landed myself in the ER.

I have an EEG next week, and I am talking with my neuro tomorrow about switching from Betaseron to either Rebif or Copaxone. betaseron makes me sick this go around. i had to stop it when i was pregt, but now that i am sadly no longer and i have to go back on it, my body appears to be rejecting it. but these seizures are a rare symptom of MS. it depends on the location of the leisions in my brain. so i may also need another MRI. i saw my neuro last week and again this week too.

so yay. if this is happening, that makes TWO rare ms symptoms i will have:( that would mean more drugs to take, which means to really think about getting prgt again all more hard to achieve :( sucks......

so i NEED my business to work, for me, my sanity. i'll be less stressed out once i get work and help dave out with the bills. we want a house and a good education for Jayden, get our bills paid off, you know, normal stuff.

ok, i figured it out and deleted the "bad" post

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:28:00 +0000

so since my laptop has a built-in camera, i decided to have some fun, especially since i had my hair cut.

Van Halen SNAFU! Joe, don't watch this it'll be to painful

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:28:00 +0000

Trouble on the road for Van Halen. They are using a digital playback system for the synth and additional instruments. The important thing is to make sure the play back is set for 44.1 khz not 48khz otherwise it plays a little faster and a little higher pitch the result can heard here.

thanks to gizmodo.com

ok i have NO idea what the hell happened

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:41:00 +0000

but yeah, my code got fracked up. anyone here can help me?

How MS Feels (MS Extreme)

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 01:38:00 +0000

I found this on www.myspace.com and thought it pretty funny ;) not everyone with MS has all of these, but i have quite a "few". the itch is the one and only one you'll hear me complain about. thank GOD it's gone for now...
enjoy :D

When We Say We Can't do Something Because We don't Feel Well,
Put yourself in Our Shoes By Using The Examples of our Symptoms Below...

- Painful Heavy Legs: Apply Tightly 20 LB ankle weights and 15 LB thigh weights then take a 1 mile walk, clean the house, go shopping and then sit down - how ya' feeling now?

- Painful Feet: Put equal or unequal amounts of small pebbles in each shoe then take a walk, if we are mad at you we would prefer needles to pebbles.

- Loss of Feeling in Hands and/or Arms: Put on extra thick gloves and a heavy coat then try and pick up a pencil, if successful stab yourself in the arm.

- Loss of Feeling in Feet and/or Legs: Ask a doc for a shot of Novocaine in both of your legs and then try and stand up and walk without looking like the town drunk. Hopefully you won't fall down.

- TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia): Take an ice pick and jam it into your ear or cheek whenever the wind blows on it, or a stray hair touches it. If you want something easier to do, get someone to punch you in the jaw preferably daily.

- Uncontrollable Itching: Glue or sew small steel wool pads to the inside of your shirt, pants and undergarments wear them for an entire day.

- Tingling: Stick your finger in an electrical socket - preferably wet.

- Tight Banded Feeling: Put 12 inch wide belt around you and make is as tight as you can and leave it there for the entire day. How ya' breathing?

- Shots: Fill one of our spare needles with saline solution, saline won't hurt you, we would love something worse but don't want to end up in jail. Give yourself a shot everytime we do our shot.

- Side Effects From the Shot: Bang you head against a wall, wrap yourself in a heating pad, wrap your entire body with an ace bandage tightly then finally treat yourself to some spoiled food or drink.

- Trouble Lifting Arms: Apply 20 LB wrist weights and try and reach for something on the highest shelf in your house.

- Spasticity: Hook bungee cords to your rear belt loops and rear pant leg cuffs then for your arms hook bungee cords to your shirt collar and cuffs on shirt sleeves then go dancing.

- Poor Hearing/Buzzing in Ears: Put a bee in each ear and then put a plug in each
one...Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

- Balance and Walking Problems: Drink 100 proof grain alcohol and then sit and spin in an office chair for 30 minutes, now get up and see what happens.

Urgently Needing to Pee: We put a .5 liter remote controlled water bag and drip tube in your pants, we point out 2 restrooms in a crowded mall, then we tell you that you have 30 seconds before we activate the water bag (by remote control) to get to a restroom. Just for spite we may make that 20 seconds without telling you.

- Bizarre and Inexplicable Sensations: Place tiny spiders on your legs or arms and
allow them to periodically crawl around throughout the day, heck all day would be good too.

- Pins and Needles: Stab yourself repeatedly with needles all over your body or better yet....Get a very large tattoo in your most sensative area.

- Dizziness (Vertigo): Get on a gently rocking boat all day and all night and take
several walks around the deck with your eyes closed.

- Fatigue: Stay awake for two full days to induce incredible fatigue and then cook dinner, clean the house, walk the dog and see how you feel. Please do not compare MS fatigue to you being tired from only a few hours of sleep - it's not the
same at all.

- Cognitive Function (Brain Fog): Take a liberal dose of sleeping pills but stay awake. Try and function properly and think clearly. To make it even more real without killing yourself of course, take the sleeping pills with a small sip of wine.

- Bowel Problems: Take a 4 day dose of an anti-diarrhea medicine followed directly by a 3 day dose of stool softeners for a minimum of 3 weeks, at the end of 3 weeks sit down on a hard uncushioned chair and stay there
till tears appeared.

- Burning Feeling: Make a full pot of boiling water and then have someone fill a squirt gun with the boiling water and shoot it at yourself all day long. However, you can give us the pleasure of shooting you instead...optional of course.

- Intention Tremor: Hook your body to some type of vibrating machine try and move your legs and arms.....hmmm are you feeling a little shaky? You are not allowed to use anything fun for this lesson.

- Buzzing Feeling When Bending Our Heads to Our Chest (L'Hermitte's):
Place an electrical wire on your back and run it all the way down to your feet, then pour water on it and plug it in.

- Vision Problems (Optic Neuritis): Smear vaseline on glasses and then wear them to read the newspaper.

- Memory Issues: Have someone make a list of items to shop for and when you come back that person adds two things to the list and then they ask why you didn't get them. When you come back from shopping again they take the list and
erase three things and ask why you bought those things.

- Foot Drop: Wear one swim fin and take about a 1/2 mile walk, nothing else needs to be said for this one, you'll get it.

- Depression: Take a trip to the animal shelter everyday and see all the lonely animals with no home. You get attached to one or more of the animals and when you come back the next day you come in while they are putting her/him asleep.

- Fear: Dream that you have lost complete feeling in your feet and when you wake up wiggle your feet, just so happens they don't move. Think about this every night wondering whether something on your body won't work the next day when you wake up.

- Swallowing: Try swallowing the hottest chili pepper you can find.

- Heat Intolerance or Feeling Hot When it's Really Not: You are on a nice vacation to Alaska. It's 35° outside and 65° inside. Light a fire for the fireplace and then get into it. Once you have reached about 110° tell me how you feel, even a person
without MS would feel bad, now add all of the above symptoms - welcome to
our world.

Then Finally...

After subjecting yourself to the items above, let everyone tell you that you
are just under a lot of stress, it's all in your head and that some exercise
and counseling is the answer.

how to have fun on a budget on a gorgeous afternoon:)

noreply@blogger.com (Jerseykids) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 02:00:00 +0000

so i have a cell phone that takes pictures and videos. it's fun, you don't really need these extra features, but the upgrades all have them now.