Saturday, March 29, 2008

Avenue Q

was funny. It's definitely for mature audiences but it is worth seeing if you get a chance. Russ, I didn't get your comment until I returned home to Athens. Sorry I missed you. I saw Sunshine but she was busy and I didn't want to bother her.

It's just starting to rain in Athens. It poured while we were leaving the show in Atlanta. I hope the rain can wash a little of the pollen away.
Liz -- thanks for your comments. Gators are certainly welcome on this board! I'm sure you were disappointed with not getting into the NCAA but look how many championship trophies you have in the last couple of years! It takes awhile to rebuild. Please feel free to use what you want from this blog. If you would like to send me your email address in a comment, I promise not to post it and I can contact you direct.

Today we are going to Atlanta to see Avenue Q. I am hoping I can follow most of it. I have wanted to see it for a long time and that is one of the shows on Broadway I never got to see during my time as Theatre Director in my old job. I woke up today having panic attacks and I am hoping that by this afternoon things will settle down for me.

My son and his fiancee are in Seattle. The weather hasn't been cooperating. He was in Washington DC on Monday of this week to have the cases he was working on at Stanford heard by the Supreme Court. I hope he can get some rulings handed down on these cases before he graduates but things like that take time. Then he flew home to Palo Alto and they drove to Seattle. This is his official spring break and the last time he will have a spring break in California. I'm so anxious for them to be home. It is going to be a busy summer.

I received two wedding invitations this week from young people that I really enjoy being around. Unfortunately, one of the wedding's conflicts with my nephew's wedding so I won't be able to go to that one. I feel honored, though, that they have asked us to share their special day with them.

The pollen is already out down here in Georgia. It is not even April and we are seeing the "green stuff" already starting to coat cars, mail boxes and sidewalks. My husband and I went out to hit the tennis ball yesterday and you can't hit the ball without pollen blowing up in your face.

A reminder that next Saturday the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association will be hosting a town hall meeting in Atlanta for those that suffer from early memory loss. If you are in the area, please sign up by going to www.alz.org/georgia and go to the town hall meeting section. It is free and lunch will be provided. Would love to see you there. It will be informative and a good way to discuss some of the issues that we face.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Loss in Virginia

Well, I'm back from Norfolk. Our women's team got bounced in the second round of the NCAA tourney. A disappointing loss needless to say.

I'm extremely tired from the trip. I slept most of the day yesterday and felt as if I was a step behind all day. Today I am very anxious. I'm upset about a couple of things that happened in my absence and I don't really know why. I think I am probably more upset with myself about letting these things get to me, but just the same, I'm upset. I'll get over it. I usually do -- it just takes me longer these days to let go of things. It's one of those days where I could sit around and cry all day. I used to have more of those days.

I need to enjoy the day -- it is suppose to be sunny and nice outside. Maybe I just need some fresh air.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Win in Virginia

I'm writing this from the hotel in Norfolk Virginia. Our women's basketball team (UGA) pulled out a win today against Iowa. It was a very close game and exciting down to the end. We now play No. 1 Ranked UNC (in our regional) on Tuesday night. It's been a long day for me with all the excitement. I bowed out of dinner tonight because I was just too tired and knew that it would be too much for me. I need my rest. Yesterday was a long day with the ride and I was pretty tired at dinner last night. I need to pace myself on this trip.

I hope everyone had a great Easter. More soon.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Alzheimer's Facts and figures

I should have put this in my new post below, but I forgot -- imagine that. Today the National Alzheimer's Association released its updated facts and figures about Alzheimer's disease. Here is the link http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_figures.asp
It's pretty amazing. Also, this week starts a media campaign in print and nationwide media about Alzheimer's. Hope you get to see some of the spots.

And, the book Still Alice which I have mentioned before is getting a lot of press these days. There was a review of the book in the Boston Globe a few days ago. Here is the link There's a fantastic article about STILL ALICE in today's Boston SundayGlobe! Here's the link if you'd like to see it.http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/16/despite_monster_she_is_still_alice?p1=email_to_a_friend
This book is great -- get it now.
I've had one of those weeks where I can't put all of my thoughts into words. I have a lot to write in here but am having a problem getting it written down.

This weekend I am traveling to Norfolk VA to watch our UGA women play basketball in the NCAA regional. A couple that I sometimes go to the games with has invited me to ride along. It certainly isn't a trip I could do myself. I'm grateful to have friends that are still willing to take me along and "to watch after me" as they say.

My son will be in Washington DC this weekend. He is taking a class on Supreme Court Litigation at Stanford and part of his class entails working on actual Supreme Court cases. He has been working on two cases and submitted some briefs in them. On Monday of next week the high court will be hearing opening arguments in the cases and coincidentally, both cases are being heard on the same day. What a great opportunity for him. He's been to the Supreme Court a couple of times before to watch the proceedings, but obviously never been inolved with a case up until now. It's an exciting time for him -- six more weeks and he'll be done with law school. I feel like I am graduating with him!

Hopeully, I can get a few more thoughts together before I leave this weekend.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Travel and storms

Was in Atlanta and Albany Georgia this week on Alzheimer's business. I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Caregivers in Albany. The group was really great and so many people came up to me afterwards and shared their stories. It is heartbreaking to hear what everyone has to go through with this disease. I learn so much from them. I appreciate them asking me to come and speak. It always helps me to listen to others that are struggling with the care giving aspect of this terrible disease.

You have probably heard about the awful storms that went through Atlanta last night. They think it was a tornado and the damage is still being assessed. I think they are fortunate there were not any lives lost in the devastation.

I'm still tired from the trip this week. More soon.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

A few things

I'll be off line for a few days. Have meetings in Atlanta and Albany Georgia this week.

I have been thinking about all the young lives we hear of being taken these days. I guess it is on my mind since the UNC student that was killed was from Athens. My son is 24 years old and I look back at some of the friends he has lost due to car accidents, hom invasions and suicide. I don't remember young people dying like that when I was young. Perhaps it happened and we just didn't hear about it. It is so tragic. And, then of course, we have all the young lives lost overseas in the war. It just makes you want to hug your kids and never let go.

This past weekend CBS news ran a story about an Atlanta couple dealing with Alzheimer's. I'm fortunate to know this couple and the piece was really good. The husband has early on-set Alzheimer's and is dealing with it with other members of his family as well. One thing that was striking to me is when they interviewed his wife Trish she said something to the effect of -- if we sat around and were depressed about this we would be missing out on a lot of quality time together. Forgive me Trish if I messed this up -- but it is so true. Time spent feeling sorry for yourself robs you of the good time you have left. Here is a link to the video http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3919714n?source=search_video

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Back from Nashville

Well -- we just got back from Nashville. We lost in the second round of the basketball tournament which was not very good! It snows about four inches in Nashville last night and getting back to the hotel from the arena was pretty slow going. There was a lot of ice underneath the snow so it was slippery. We waited for the roads to clear before we headed home today. I'm glad we are home -- I'm tired and I have a long week in front of me.

Many of you may have heard or read about the young lady that was murdered at UNC in Chapel Hill. She was the student body president and she is from here -- Athens, Georgia. I know her father and I can't imagine what that family is going through. The details of her murder are a little sketchy to me because I have been out of the news loop. She was so well loved and was the valedictorian of her high school here in Athens. What a shame to lose a life that young.

More when I get rested and before I leave for Albany this week. Thanks again to all of those that responded, sent comments and emails from the Alzheimer's Assn. post last week.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Thank you

to the hundreds of people who logged on to this blog after reading my story on the Alzheimer's Association website. I'm so glad that people are using the internet to find out more about Alzheimer's. Thanks, too, for the comments you have left -- I appreciate the feedback. If you want to leave a comment with your email address I promise to get back to you personally and to not publish your email address.

I'd also like to say that if you are in Georgia and around the Atlanta area on April 5th, the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Assn. is hosting a "Town Hall Meeting" for those with early stage Alzheimer's or dementia. It is free but you must sign up. Information will be posted on the Georgia website soon so please check it out. www.alz.org/georgia. These Town Hall meetings have been taking place all over the country and if you check the national website at http://www.alz.org/townhall/ you can find out more information.

Thanks again for reading my ramblings. Some days are better than others -- so check back often!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Facebook

Many of you are probably aware of Facebook on the internet. For some odd reason, several months ago I decided to see what it was all about. I've known about it for a long time and my son knows some people that work there in California, but I haven't really been able to wrap my arm around the whole concept. I understand it, but I guess I'm not very good at maneuvering it -- I don't do well learning new things!!!

One of the aspects is that you can have friends and you have to invite them to be your friend or vice versa. I don't have many friends on Facebook! I feel like the kid who never got picked in gym class! Now granted, people my age don't usually use facebook so they wouldn't be on the system to be my friend. I've asked a few people to be my friend and they haven't responded. And some people, I want to ask to be my friends, but I'm afraid they will say no!!! How is that for rejection -- by cyberspace! I'm still working on it. I am surrprised though by some that are on facebook and I would have never thought they would understand how to even log on -- at least I can do that. I'm going to keep working on it. My facebook profile is at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501222249

We are off to Nashville tomorrow to go to the SEC tournament for women's basketball. My husband is going and that helps me a lot. Of course, I have my earplugs handy to handle the crowd noise!

Next week I'm off to Albany Georgia for an Alzheimer's speaking engagement. I'm looking forward to it -- I spoke to this group several years ago and they were a great audience and a large one at that. I think back about how my speaking engagements have changed over the years with my message. It's amazing all the I have learned and can hopefully share with others. My friend Carol is going with me to be my traveling companion and I'm looking forward to spending time with her.

I had one crown put on last week and it looks likes that might be it and I won't have to have the other one. That's good for me as well as my wallet.