Does anyone even wonder what normal felt like. I'm having an MS type day, nothing has done right. My resolve to cook at home was a failure. My body feels beat up. What was I like when I was normal???

I don't fully remember myself, as far as 'normal' goes. I realized something about myself this week. I actually, set myself up to move less, so to speak. When I was at my other location at work, the woman I worked with for three years, had this philosophy, "Work Smart, Not Hard." And she and I organized our area, so that everything was laid out, to not move around as much, or to be a little less chaotic. She used to manage a kitchen, a while ago. And I realized, this helps my MS. Because, I use less steps to get to where I am going. She's the only one I told, and it was only this school year, because management plopped the biggest, and seemingly unreasonable project, onto my lap. I was worried about some emotional 'flashbacks' I was having, and also about exhausting myself.
It's about planning it out, first.

And about 'failure', Nope!! My son's wrestling motto, he is learning...
Lose to Learn
Win to Earn

Planning, involves, what bowls, utensils will I need. Line out the ingredients, according to order they go in. Have everything you need, first. Then cook. Less running around. Less steps=Less fatigue.

I realized this about myself. I cater to my illness, didn't realize I did, until I worked in the cafeteria kitchen.

And also, the more prep time, before that oven goes on = less time near a heated oven/stove. I use a digital timer, really miss the one I had with 4 settings, and walk away from the heat.

You mean to say, this isn't normal????

I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that the last day of work before my exacerbation that took me off work was May 15 1999. I haven't noticed before that I get down in the dumps around this time.

BTW, my house still smells of my failed dish. I have never cooked with garlic before except for using some garlic salt on breadsticks. So my house reeks of garlic still. I don't know if I can watch Rachael Ray again!!!!!!

You can try cutting up something citrus and simmering it in a pan of water on the stove for a while to get rid of the smell.

I miss normal too.

I miss what I remember as being "normal". Sometimes what should be so simple seems so difficult now. Makes me mad to think about the things I used to do with no thought. Now, everything must be thought out, planned, etc. Doing things spontaneously doesn't exist anymore.

Pretty spring flowers, Kelly.

I have found that as I increase my exercise at the Y I am sleeping better which then makes the over all person feel better.

Hydrangeas were my sister's favorite. They remind me of her.