[stevem53]

Hi Everyone..A warm welcome to our new community members!

Its been a warm and muggy week, and the air conditioners have been blasting away

My support group met today, and we made plans for our annual picnic..Not much of a showing today, and it seems that our group is getting smaller as time goes on..One of our members passed away, and some of the others either are too advanced in their pd to make it there anymore, or they cant drive that far anymore..If it werent for carepartner spouses, the group would have to fold

Ive been busy building some new conch, and bait traps for the fall run..Hopefully I will build enough of the new design by September

After a lot of thought..Ive decided to resign as PAN Coordinator of Rhode Island..I am going to wait untill the meetings of my local APDA Chapter resume in September, and inform them of my decision so that they can find a replacement within one of the support groups..I havent felt comfortable in the position from day one, and it takes more of my time that I have to devote to doing a thourough job..I also have had a bad taste in my mouth about it since last February, when I couldnt make it to the PAN Forum because I could barely walk, and was prodded to make it up there on the day they had appointments made for me to lobby my state's Senators and Reps, because they didnt want to have to cancel those appointments..I thought that was kinda inconsiderate..Bottom line..Its just not my cup of tea..There is a guy who is interested in the job, and would be a much better coordinator than me, but hes doesnt have pd..His wife does..I dont know if that matters..He is naturally cut out to rub elbows with the media and politicians..He is an eliquent speaker as well..Me..Ive got no use for, nor any faith in the political process..Ive been through enough of it in the fishing business for too many years, and Im tired of it..Theres no right or wrong anymore..Everything is "political" nowadays

How was your week?

[vlhperry]

I am sorry to hear your support group is dying out. As for a warm welcome to new visitors, I don't know of any other kind. Here in Minnesota it has been in the 90's and 70 dewpoint factor. That darn jet stream insists on staying in Canada and just refuses to dip into the states. I suppose fish that prefer cooler temps must migrate to where it is more comfortable. I hate this heat. No where cooler to move to but Alaska. Couldn't take the long nights.

My son was married last Saturday. Didn't go quite as the bride and groom planned it. The brides mother pulled a fast one at the last minute. The wedding was held in her backyard which has a very steep slooping hill down to a lake. My son had told me to just sit down and relax which I did.

Suddenly the bride's mom was frantically motioning for me to climb the steep hill and meet her at the top. I had no idea what she wanted so I labored to get up to the top. I was covered with perspiration by the time I reached the back deck. She told my youngest son (the best man) to escort me to the chair I had just vacated and told her son to escort her to her chair.

I had 2 friends who were playing piano and flute who had no idea when the bride and her father were coming down the hill for which the bride and groom had asked them to play, "Sunrise, Sunset" from "Fiddler on the Roof." Dale, the piano player happened to look up to see the father handing his daughter off to my son, and broke into "Sunrise, Sunset" while the Justice of the Peace shifted from foot to foot waiting for the music to stop.

The bride was stunning and my son is so lucky. When my first son got married I had given the bride a string of pearls my mother had given me. I was surprised to see Karen was also wearing them and pointed it out to my mother. I had given the bride a pin of a humming bird made ofblue and purple stones as something old and something blue. Purple was her favorite color.

I left before the cake was cut as I found myself struggling down the street, not sure why I was there, so my husband took me home to sleep it off. One of the hardest parts of having Parkinson's is learning to love and trust someone else to make decisions for you when you know your brain doesn't seem to be functioning properly. As angry as it makes you feel to gradually loose the ability to make decisions, you must admit it is happening and love your carepartner for staying with you and not strike out in anger at the one you love most because of the anguish of the loss of your independence.
Sorry to take up so much time. Steve, glad to hear you know your limits.
Take care and God bless.

Love,
Vicky

[reverett123]

Continue to marvel at ginseng experiment. Am taking my last meds at noon and going until bedtime. Quit selegeline completely last week. Find that I do best "front loading" with meds in first part of day (6 AM, 9 AM, Noon) and ginseng at 9AM, 2 PM, and 6 PM or so. Seldom freeze even at night now.

Bank said Friday they will make the loan for the trailer park! Coincidentally on my 54th birthday. One last hurdle - it must appraise at a certain minimum value. Going to be a squeaker.

Been working on getting www.parkinsonsonline.org ready for fall launch. Part of it requires that I get the research that Anne Forbert and I have compiled into a understandable form and it is a bear. Net result is that we are writing a book together. We are trying the form of each writing a chapter on a particular subject with me writing for "real people" and she for doctors and scientists. Very interesting process. Twenty-five chapters or so. (Did I mention that ginseng has increased my energy? )

Hot - Hot - Hot

But it IS raining and that makes it OK in my view.

-Rick

[GregD]

Not much going on in this part of the world. It rained every day last week. It's supposed to be in the 90's F with high humidity starting tomorrow. I don't mind that kind of weather. It's better than 35 F and rain.

As for my symptoms, they are still here. One good thing, I haven't fell for almost a year now. It's not because I haven't had the opportunity. I have had some close calls. Sure does feel good not bouncing off the floor or ground everytime you turn around.

I thought I might give Rick's ginseng experiment a go. I'll be darned if I can find red ginseng around here. I guess it will have to wait until I go to the big city in a couple of weeks.

Have a good week!!!

GregD

[rosebud]

I am on Vancouver Island at my son's waiting for grand child #5 to arrive. It's been beautiful weather, and I'm as brown as I've ever been from all that sitting in the sunshine. I am trying to stay out of shoe stores and monitor my mirapex very closely. I have only purchased two pairs of shoes in the last two weeks, one pair is very practical and the second pair were summer sale shoe...just for fun! Both pairs were a really good price,which keeps my guilt buttons from flashing red!

When I head home on the 21st , I'll have to start packing for the move to my daughters. They think they have found a house that would suit us all fine. I have found it quite stress relieving not to have to answer the door, the phone, or see who the dog is barking at. Interesting how these little day to day things we take for granted nibble away at our sanity.

Well we're off to the beach and another day of sudoku!!

[burckle]

Hi:

Well, we've made the move to Maine. I was hooked up to the internet yesterday and am ready for business. I am now officially retired but don't have much time on my hands. Still have papers to work on, projects to complete. Will still be consulted since I have the institutional memory, including the in house jokes. Hope to get involved in PD here in Maine.

All the best,

Lloyd

[boomer]

We are having a great time ............here in the Carolinas!
I have relatives over from the UK, and we are off to the beach on vacation next week..........about 35 of us from all over the states!!

I am off to the movies today............in this town if you are in a wheelchair, you get in free!!! One of the benefits I guess of being sick!! lol

Well y,all have a safe and exciting week!!!!!!!!