I have finally rested a little after my trip to Minneapolis. It was a great trip even though it was so short. I was part of a panel that spoke to a group from Golden Clinical Services, part of Golden Ventures. It was a training session for their employees on Alzheimer's Care. They were so nice to us. Also on the panel were two gentleman from Minnesota that I have been working with for a few months on this and it was nice to finally meet them. I really appreciate this company working with their employees to understand this disease. Thanks for having me.
To my Illinois friends out there, just wanted to say that I'm sorry for you that Illinois didn't win the NCAA Tennis tournament against Georgia. However, this capped off Georgia's undefeated season so I am glad they won. Illinois made a great move by beating some top ranked teams to get to the final. They had a lot of supporters in the crowd and were very vocal!
We are off to a wedding in North Carolina this weekend. And, get to see an old friend that used to live in Athens.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
It's been awhile I know. I've been busy and I've been exhausted. It's hard for me to write when I am tired. My concentration level is not what it used to be!
I've been off on my days all week, thinking it was one day when it was another. I think I must be anxious for this week to end!
On Monday, I'm off to Minneapolis for a speaking engagement. I'll get to meet some new folks with dementia. I've been working with them via conference calls for a couple of months so it will be nice to meet them. Those connections are vital to me.
I'll be back on line when I return and have rested up.
I've been off on my days all week, thinking it was one day when it was another. I think I must be anxious for this week to end!
On Monday, I'm off to Minneapolis for a speaking engagement. I'll get to meet some new folks with dementia. I've been working with them via conference calls for a couple of months so it will be nice to meet them. Those connections are vital to me.
I'll be back on line when I return and have rested up.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Busy weeks ahead
I'm gearing up for a few busy weeks. As I tired as I get I need to pace myself. Next week I am going to begin volunteering for the NCAA women and men's tennis tournament to be held here. The men's tournament has been here for many years and we always go to watch. This year both the men's and the women's tourney is being held at the same time and they needed some people to work. I can't do much that requires a lot of concentration for a long period of time, but at least I might feel useful.
In the middle of that I'm going to Minneapolis to speak to a group on what it is like to have Alzheimer's. There will be several people on a panel and I'm anxious to go and see some old friends. It will be an exhausting trip for me and I know I will need a few days to recover.
Over the Memorial Day weekend we are going to a friend's wedding in North Carolina. This lovely young lady that is getting married was the Chair of our first Memory Walk here in Athens. She was going to UGA at the time and her sorority, Sigma Kappa, supports Alzheimer's as their philanthropic interest and she was in charge. She is a remarkable young lady. She now lives in Denver and works for a pharmaceutical company. I'm so glad she is getting married and I haven't seen her in over a year so I'm glad that we will be part of her special day. I just have to remember to pace myself!
In June we finally get to see the kid in Washington DC. It seems like he is settling in to his new job at the law firm up there. I'm sure he will have lots to show us and tell us.
Speaking of the Memory Walk -- the date for Athens' is Saturday October 20th. Your support is definitely needed. And, if you get a chance, check out the national Alzheimer's Website at www.alz.org. They have a great new ad campaign that is coming out and hopefully will help raise awareness. Some big names have lended their support to the program and I am excited to see that happening.
The best of Mother's Day to all of you out there.
In the middle of that I'm going to Minneapolis to speak to a group on what it is like to have Alzheimer's. There will be several people on a panel and I'm anxious to go and see some old friends. It will be an exhausting trip for me and I know I will need a few days to recover.
Over the Memorial Day weekend we are going to a friend's wedding in North Carolina. This lovely young lady that is getting married was the Chair of our first Memory Walk here in Athens. She was going to UGA at the time and her sorority, Sigma Kappa, supports Alzheimer's as their philanthropic interest and she was in charge. She is a remarkable young lady. She now lives in Denver and works for a pharmaceutical company. I'm so glad she is getting married and I haven't seen her in over a year so I'm glad that we will be part of her special day. I just have to remember to pace myself!
In June we finally get to see the kid in Washington DC. It seems like he is settling in to his new job at the law firm up there. I'm sure he will have lots to show us and tell us.
Speaking of the Memory Walk -- the date for Athens' is Saturday October 20th. Your support is definitely needed. And, if you get a chance, check out the national Alzheimer's Website at www.alz.org. They have a great new ad campaign that is coming out and hopefully will help raise awareness. Some big names have lended their support to the program and I am excited to see that happening.
The best of Mother's Day to all of you out there.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
I think I have finally rested up from a busy week last week. My husband and I volunteered at a pro golf tournament held locally. It was about as much as I could do -- it was rather exhausting -- but it makes me feel useful!
My son is finishing up his second year at law school at Stanford this week. Next Monday he starts a new job at a law firm in Washington DC. I'm just glad that he is going to be in the same time zone as we are for a change! It's an exciting time for him. I miss him alot. I was thinking that this is the longest time I have been without seeing him and I still have six weeks to go before we make a visit to Washington DC. I know, though, that I am lucky that at least I do get to see him as often as I do. I know there are many parents that have children that live much farther away and don't get to see them.
Many of you have asked how the wedding plans are coming for Alan and Jennifer. Don't know much as I'm not sure that they have made many decisions. Hopefully more details will be coming soon.
It is suppose to be 92 degrees here in Athens today. That is just too hot already for just the first of May. I hope this is not indicative of the summer to come.
My son is finishing up his second year at law school at Stanford this week. Next Monday he starts a new job at a law firm in Washington DC. I'm just glad that he is going to be in the same time zone as we are for a change! It's an exciting time for him. I miss him alot. I was thinking that this is the longest time I have been without seeing him and I still have six weeks to go before we make a visit to Washington DC. I know, though, that I am lucky that at least I do get to see him as often as I do. I know there are many parents that have children that live much farther away and don't get to see them.
Many of you have asked how the wedding plans are coming for Alan and Jennifer. Don't know much as I'm not sure that they have made many decisions. Hopefully more details will be coming soon.
It is suppose to be 92 degrees here in Athens today. That is just too hot already for just the first of May. I hope this is not indicative of the summer to come.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Weddings
Yesterday I attended a wedding of a former employee. Pictured above is me with him (right) and another former employee who was the best man. They are both just a little older than my son and came to work for me when my son had left for college. I guess I kind of looked at them as my "surrogate sons" when they worked for me and they have sinced stayed friends of mine. They are great guys and I am so glad that our paths crossed in life and I can consider them "family". They have moved away so I don't see them very often, but I do see their parents and we stay in touch when we can.
Friends are important in life....don't forget that!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Social Security
I know many of you are aware of the trouble I have had getting my social security disability. I don't understand why some get it right away and others have to wait so long. I've been denied many times and "my case" is suppose to go before a judge in Atlanta to determine whether or not I will get it. My disability insurance company told me I had to apply when I started receiving my disability checks. After gettting rejected several times they hired an attorney to help us through the process.
When the attorney initially contacted me, he sent me letters telling me that a judge should hear my case within 90 days of application but because the Atlanta Social Security hearing offices were so backlogged it could be as long as a year before they heard my case. It is now 21 months later and still nothing!
I received a letter from the attorney yesterday telling me that it will be "several more months" before they even begin working on it. My file remains unworked and unassigned at this time.
My attorney also sent this notice to me:
"There are 141 Social Security Hearing Offices in the US. As of January 2007, Downtown Atlanta is at the very bottom of the list -- Number 141! The other local hearing office, Atlanta North, is Number 131 in terms of the longest delays.
The Atlanta North hearing office now has a docket of over 11,000 cases. To deal with this staggering case load, they have seven fewer employees than several years ago when they were dealing with a 2,500 case backlog. To make matters worse, two of the nine judges are retiring soon, and there are no current plans to replace them. "
I'm o.k. for now, but what about all those people that rely solely on Social Security Disability?
When the attorney initially contacted me, he sent me letters telling me that a judge should hear my case within 90 days of application but because the Atlanta Social Security hearing offices were so backlogged it could be as long as a year before they heard my case. It is now 21 months later and still nothing!
I received a letter from the attorney yesterday telling me that it will be "several more months" before they even begin working on it. My file remains unworked and unassigned at this time.
My attorney also sent this notice to me:
"There are 141 Social Security Hearing Offices in the US. As of January 2007, Downtown Atlanta is at the very bottom of the list -- Number 141! The other local hearing office, Atlanta North, is Number 131 in terms of the longest delays.
The Atlanta North hearing office now has a docket of over 11,000 cases. To deal with this staggering case load, they have seven fewer employees than several years ago when they were dealing with a 2,500 case backlog. To make matters worse, two of the nine judges are retiring soon, and there are no current plans to replace them. "
I'm o.k. for now, but what about all those people that rely solely on Social Security Disability?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Virginia Tech
Hug your kids, hug your families -- the tragedy at Virginia Tech reminds us once again how precious life is. What a senseless act. My best friend from college has a son that goes to Virginia Tech and he is an engineering major. I have tried to contact her but I haven't been able to get in touch with her yet to see if her son is o.k. Life is just too short for some.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Yesterday
was our 27th wedding anniversary. The time certainly flies. I guess none of us knows what we are getting into when we marry ...... I just wish my family didn't have to carry this burden with me.
Yesterday also brought a trip to the neurologist. He's changing up my medicine a little and it is time for another CT scan of my brain. It's been awhile so we'll see if we can find some changes. I have had increasing problems with finding the right words for things lately. That is so frustrating. I can see it in my head but I can't find it!
Yesterday also brought a trip to the neurologist. He's changing up my medicine a little and it is time for another CT scan of my brain. It's been awhile so we'll see if we can find some changes. I have had increasing problems with finding the right words for things lately. That is so frustrating. I can see it in my head but I can't find it!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Routine
I had a busy week last week and got out of my "routine". I noticed that my panic attacks were worse last week. We had a garage sale with several other families and it was held at our house. We had the opportunity to do a lot of spring cleaning, but at the same time, it created upheaval around our house because things weren't where they were suppose to be. The house was a mess, our garage was full of "stuff" and things were just not "normal". It is amazing how this affects me. But it is over now and the money we raised from the garage sale is a start for our Memory Walk this year.
Also, the mother of a close friend of my son's, passed away last week and that always gets me much more emotional than I used to be. She was only 55 too and it was such a shock to everyone. She had four children and Alan's friend read a eulogy that one of her other sisters had written. It was so sad. Those things stick longer with me now -- I don't know if it is the disease or the fact that I am getting older and people are passing away that are close to my age or just before their time.
Also, the mother of a close friend of my son's, passed away last week and that always gets me much more emotional than I used to be. She was only 55 too and it was such a shock to everyone. She had four children and Alan's friend read a eulogy that one of her other sisters had written. It was so sad. Those things stick longer with me now -- I don't know if it is the disease or the fact that I am getting older and people are passing away that are close to my age or just before their time.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
It's official
my son and his girlfriend of almost five years got officially engaged last week. They went to Hawaii for Alan's spring break and he finally popped the question. Details to follow, but now I'll have another female in the family. Have two brothers, my husband having two brothers and me having a son -- it will be nice to have a female as part of our family.....welcome Jennifer Lee.
And, even though this is being written on April Fool's Day -- it is not a joke.
The pollen in the south has been horrendous. The yellow green color that it leaves everywhere literally can take your breath away. We are suppose to have rain today and that will certainly help.
This week I had a test done at a local hospital on my left leg. The leg has been swelling and at first there was reason to believe that I had a blood clot in my leg. But after tests for that it was determined that was not the cause. Now the doctors believe that the problem lies in my lymph system. Anyway, I went to the hospital to have this test done -- I don't remember the name of it -- but it entailed having some fluid injected into my feet and then they watched the fluid stream through my body. It doesn't sound so bad, but the shots were given between my toes on each foot!!! Sounds awful.....it was awful. I have had several cortisone shots for various things over the years and it was very close to that -- which caused me excruitating pain. And, it also topped right up there with getting two spinal taps during my diagnosis for Alzheimer's. What fun I have had. Results will be in next week on my leg. It's not life threatening -- just a nuisance more than anything.
And, even though this is being written on April Fool's Day -- it is not a joke.
The pollen in the south has been horrendous. The yellow green color that it leaves everywhere literally can take your breath away. We are suppose to have rain today and that will certainly help.
This week I had a test done at a local hospital on my left leg. The leg has been swelling and at first there was reason to believe that I had a blood clot in my leg. But after tests for that it was determined that was not the cause. Now the doctors believe that the problem lies in my lymph system. Anyway, I went to the hospital to have this test done -- I don't remember the name of it -- but it entailed having some fluid injected into my feet and then they watched the fluid stream through my body. It doesn't sound so bad, but the shots were given between my toes on each foot!!! Sounds awful.....it was awful. I have had several cortisone shots for various things over the years and it was very close to that -- which caused me excruitating pain. And, it also topped right up there with getting two spinal taps during my diagnosis for Alzheimer's. What fun I have had. Results will be in next week on my leg. It's not life threatening -- just a nuisance more than anything.
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