Date

I had a date for lunch with my son yesterday. I was in Atlanta and he was free so we were able to have a little time for lunch. I'm so glad he is back close to home. I've missed that.

Interesting story

I grew up in and around Peoria Illinois. Yes, it is always the butt of many jokes, but it is also the world headquarters of Caterpillar Tractor Company -- known now as only Caterpillar. Having said that it was interesting growing up in a "one company" town if you will. If you weren't associated with "CAT" you didn't exist. I remember once wanting to see a doctor and not being able to get in because I din't work for Cat. I had my secretary (whose husband did work for Cat) call and make an appointment for herself and then I went. I had to beg them to take me and they would only take cash money. I had good insurance but they didn't want to deal with it. I was lucky they even saw me at all.

Then over 30 years ago I got married and we moved to Athens Georgia -- where the single employer here is the University of Georgia. If you weren't associated with UGA you didn't exist. I can honestly say that over the years that has changed and you don't feel quite as alienated as you used to -- or at least we don't.

But now, Caterpillar announced today they are opening a plant here in Athens that will employ around 1,000 people. It's great for the community, but how ironic is that?

Alzheimer's Awareness Day

at the Georgia Capitol was yesterday. Over 300 people were in Atlanta to help advocate for some issues that our legislature is dealing with regarding Alzheimer's. Just a few years ago when this even was started there were a hand full of people there. I was so proud of our contingency from all over the state that came.

Everyone has their own unique story. And, after yesterday, I know that even when I cannot speak for myself, there will be a host of people out there advocating for me.

Thanks to my family for coming and taking time out of their work days -- as well as my daughter-in-law's father. That meant so much to me. I appreciate everyone's support.

I have lots to write about the visit and will do so when I get some photos to post from yesterday.
Thanks to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia for hosting us and helping us with our visits.

Funding from the Government

Some increased funding for Alzheimer's research was authorized by the federal government this week. I'm grateful for that, even though it is a modest step. You can read more here.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/alzheimers/story/2012-02-07/Administration-boosts-funding-for-Alzheimers-research/52997920/1.

Need Your Help

I've discussed the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) on several occasions. The president is working on the budget and we need to be sure that he stays committed to NAPA.

Here is something from the Alzheimer's Association website -- if you clink on the link below you can sign the letter going to President Obama. It only takes a minute and we need your help.

Alzheimer's can't wait. We need a federal commitment in order to change the course of Alzheimer's disease. Tell President Obama millions of families are counting on him to fulfill the potential of the National Alzheimer's Project Act when he releases his upcoming Budget Request to Congress.

http://www.alz.org/petition/overview.asp?type=homepage_petition

Join me for Georgia Alzheimer's Awareness Day

On Monday, February 13th -- you'll find me at the Georgia State Capitol to help promote Alzheimer's Awareness to our legislators. Will you join me? Many people are intimidated to go to the "gold dome" as we often call our capitol. They are intimidated by not knowing the process of talking to our legislators and afraid of saying the wrong thing. The great day about the Awareness Day at the Capitol is that if you feel uncomfortable talking, you don't have to -- you just need to be there. There will be others willing to talk on your behalf, but you showing up and adding to our numbers makes a difference. When legislators see the "sea of purple" (since you'll be given purple shirts to wear" it makes a big impact on them. We want to make legislators aware that Alzheimer's isn't going to go away any time soon, and we need their help.

The Georgia Alzheimer's office is currently working on several initiatives that we want our legistlators to know about. Items that will affect not only those living with the disease but certainly the hundreds of caregivers in Georgia. One of those things is a state Alzheimer's Plan. Currently, 19 states have state Alzheimer's plans. These plans help to guide how Alzheimer's is handled on a state basis and will work in conjunction with the National Alzheimer's Project Act that is currently being formed on a national level. The state plan can deal with all types of issues facing those dealing with Alzheimer's to help with respite care, programs and services and laws that protect our loved ones with Alzheimer's.

Many initiatives need funding -- and although we know funding is in short supply these days, if we don't stay out in front of our legislators, then we will be forgotten.

If you've never done anything like this before, please consider joining us. As a favor to me, and the other 200,000 people living with Alzheimer's in the state of Georgia. Numbers count. And we need you to help make a difference. Just your presence is something. Don't be intimidated -- you won't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. But, if you are reading this blog, you probably have someone in your life you know with Alzheimer's and you can help us just by showing up on Feburary 13th.

The day will start with lunch, then a walk to the capitol to meet with legislators and possibly the governor and end with dinner and a candlelight tribute on the steps of the capitol. You can come for all or part of it. I can't stress enough what an impact seeing hundreds of people wearing purple shirts in the capitol makes.

You must register -- but it is simple and can be done online. There is also training if you so desire to learn about the iniatives that are going to be discussed. You can do that in person or online if you so choose. We just need to know if you are coming or not so we can plan for food and shirts for everyone. You can read more about here: http://act.alz.org/site/PageNavigator/georgiaadvocacy.html1

Please make Alzheimer's a priority -- we need everyone's help!

National Alzheimer's Project Act - NAPA

This week the National Alzheimer's Project Act was discussed in Washington DC. This is one of the first of many meetings to bring this act to fruition. An article ran in the USA Today regarding the act and the work that is being done on it.

You can read it here : http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/alzheimers/story/2012-01-16/US-launches-national-war-on-Alzheimers/52603476/1

January 20

I've written about my friend Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice and Left Neglected. January 20 is a big day for her -- she will be appearing on the Today Show that morning, she will be on Dr. Oz show that day and then that night she is part of a documentary on younger on-set Alzhiemer's.

The documentary is "To Not Fade Away". It is on at 10:00 p.m. January 20. The bad part for me at least is, that it is airing on RLTV. RLTV is a network aimed at the "over 50" age group and stands for "Redefine Life". However, it is not in my area. To see if you get RLTV on your cable system, you can go to their website at http://rl.tv/ an put your zip code in. That will tell you whether or not you receive that channel and where to find it.

Thanks to Lisa for all she does for our Alzheimer's community. She's working on a new book and I'll tell you more about that at another time.

Comments

I've had lots of comments lately. Many -- I'm not posting here.

I'm glad the last post received some comments though -- and to one I too am sad this had to happen to Coach Summitt -- or anyone.

It's just Tuesday and this has already been a bad week. Seems like I set out to do one thing and it doesn't go my way and the rest of the day goes down hill from there. I'm frustrating myself by not being able to do some things and that makes me mad. Learning new things is difficult and I get frustrated so easily. I think "this can't be that hard" and it isn't really -- I just can't grasp it. It is so maddening!!! And, if I do "get it" the answer to it was in front of my nose the whole time and although I could see it and read it -- I couldn't figure out what it was telling me. That disconnect in the brain can play lots of weird tricks on you!

We Back Pat Week

The Southeastern Conference has posted on their site that there will be a "We Back Pat Week" in honor of Pat Summitt, University of Tennessee women's basketball coach who was recently diagnosed with younger on-set Alzheimer's. Thanks to the SEC and the basketball nation for recognizing her courageous stance to bring public awareness to this disease. You can get the link here: http://www.secdigitalnetwork.com/NEWS/tabid/473/Article/230304/sec-launches-we-back-pat-week.aspx