rEaLiZaTiOn.. SaLvAgE tHe bEsT!

So I was catching up on a little reading tonight.  I've been neglecting to read several of the blogs I have subscribed to.  Which is perfectly fine as they aren't going anywhere!  =)!

I have either been in to much pain or to busy trying to get things done around here, and today I went out twice and drove once! (An Unexpected Blessing!)  Not very far, but I got out on my own with Luka!  More on that later.

While reading the blogs I came across this one.  Kara Swanson's Brain Injury Blog.  This post struck me today. 
I hope you will take a minute to check it out. 

If you have read her post then the rest of this will make more sense.  For the longest time I held on to my life.  Held on to the hope of having it back.  I still do I guess.  Emotionally that is.  I need to let that girl go and bury her.  Start over fresh.  

My mom passed, and the three of us girls did that.  Dad told us what was important to him, and we took care of the rest.  We were immediate about it.  While it was not easy, it was cathartic.  We each saved what made us happy.  The rest of her life was gifted to others donated or sold.  My dad moved on dramatically as well.  He had a period of struggling to find a proper age appropriate way to move on, but he figured it out with a little help {Wink} and is doing well. 

Are you ever over loosing someone?  I don't think so, but you are able to move on a make a new life for yourself.  When I was given the opinion from the Dr.'s that I was going to be better in 2 Days 2 Weeks and 2 Years..  time kept going on and so did my hope to return to my life.  YEARS WENT BY... Hope held on.  Finally I looked at my Doc.  I said.  I am not going to ever be like I was am I?  He finally said that I was not. 

I think I was at 4 -5 years into this when he told me that.  I was sick.  Emotionally sick, but Emotionally relieved as well.  I had been fighting this whole time to get that life back.  All of the energy I had was focused on the past.  Focused on getting back to that.  Time had gone on.  Even if I could physically get back together, I would never have "that" life back. 

And at this point I didn't even really have a life to hold on to at that moment.  Not of my own.  But I did with the relationship with my husband.  So I hang on to that as I try build one for myself.  I miss who I was.  I am hopeful that who I am becoming will mean something. 

I have lost myself before.  This is the second time.  It is hard to salvage and move on. 

Who I am changed each time.  Who I had to be was different.  Who I will be will be different. 

But I will also be exactly the same. 

Thanks Kara for sharing your story.

Blessings,

Pink Doberman

HiS bUSy DaY!

What another nice day.  For sure!  I am so happy about the weather!  The birds are out chirping again!  I could get used to this! 

This morning I was doing pretty well, the eggs got delivered!  Yeah, I reheated the potatoes that I had left out of Luka's first batch of food and Jason mixed them up! 

When Jason arrived home this morning he was busy working to get the things I wanted done finished.  That was until he learned that the telephone systems for the county were not functioning.  He then went to sit and wait for possible emergencies at the volunteer fire station.  He was there for many hours.  When he arrived back home he started some yard work.  He worked hard at dethatching our lawn.  He got one section of it done before coming in to mix up the food shower and run out to another teaching job. 

Thank goodness for these teaching jobs, we've had a huge break in them this winter, it is really showing in our financial state.  Hopefully change is right around the corner!  While I hate that he is gone, we will love it when we can have a little more stability. 

I keep trying to do things.  Today started off well, until I took a shower.  While drying my hair, something happened and my neck flared up again!  Grrr.. Spent the whole afternoon in bed.  Frustration.  The great thing is that by laying down flat for many hours, I was able to stop the increasing pain and did not take any medication.  I never know what is going to happen next.  I guess life stays interesting that way.

One thing at a time things are getting done around here!  That is exciting all on its own.  Jason got part of the yard done, I have mostly clean floors in the house, I forgot to ask Jason to finish the last two.  (not his favorite thing)  While I have been hurting some, when I am not I am up pittering around doing things, the dishes are done!!  Yea!  I am going to fold some laundry soon!  So that will be great!  I have started sorting the clothes winter ones need to be packed away.  They take up so much room!  It will be so nice to have that done!

I even had an egg for breakfast!  It was wonderful!  I did my cleanse and had an egg and a piece of toast!  A shake for lunch and and apple for a snack!  I have been marinating a steak, hoping that Jason would be able to eat it with me.  ( might have to wait a while longer for that.. I think I need to cook it up tonight anyway ) I had planned to make it for us for lunch.. but he was gone waiting for emergencies..

Well, I did not have the steak for supper.  I made a meal from leftovers.  It was fabulous.  I am thrilled I could be up and cook something!  Some days that is so difficult for me to do.  I love to do it but some days it just is not possible.  It was today, that is something wonderful to be thankful for!  Especially after my afternoon. 





I think I am managing things better.  At least I hope so.  I am trying to.  The birds are helping.  Wish I had some more energy, that is for sure.

Hopefully they will figure out what is going on soon with the phone systems.  It is not a good situation.  He just called he is done with his class.  He will be home soon, in time to go to sleep.


Of course there are emergencies and things going on all over the world.  Medical emergencies and catastrophic weather has wreaked havoc like mad.  It really puts things into perspective.  We each do what we can and consider others and what they are going through.  I like the thought of each one reach one.  Do something nice and unexpected for someone else today.  You never know who is having a rough day or going through something that a little unexpected cheer would make better.

I love it when my day has been brightened, and I love brightening other people's day as well!  I am going to think of some more things I can do..

In addition I would like to mention that today is National Autism Awareness Day!  I encourage you to learn about one of the most inspirational people I know. ( I don't know her personally of course.)   She has Autism and is amazing to me!



Hope your day has been brightened or you've brightened someone's day!

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

EgGs... & SeRviCe DoG NeWs...

This post shares something important at the end!

Things while difficult in some areas are better in others.  Luka and I attended an event last night.  Jason dropped us off and our very prego friend L dropped us off at home.  She was there also making beautiful things with me.

We made Eggs!  Yep!  Eggs.  We did not cook them they in fact are still RAW!  Loving that part!  We dyed them.  Pysknky Style!   We had our event at this great place!  Check it out!   It was fun.  I was completely worn out afterward, and today I am definitely medicated!  But I got to do something creative with friends, which was totally worth it.










They are a wax relief... you paint the wax on with this little device called a Kistky they have three sizes of them and make fancy electric ones.....

See how busy everyone is.. Thanks to Gina for taking some great pictures for me!

So this is the design I did.. what is black on my egg is soon to be white and what is white is soon to be black.. The little tan square is bees wax.. You dip your Kistky in the bees wax after holding in in the flame.  Scoop up the wax and it melts on in a line to your egg..  You can also see my practice lines on the plate.

Yep, I copied it.. Well, not quite.  I did my own version...  But it is similar..

You melt the wax off after you have dipped the egg in the dye.  I didn't get a shot of us doing that, but there were so many tempting colors to choose from.  I couldn't think.. So I just chose black.

My friend L's egg... isn't it cute?  Luka kept wanting an egg too, but he finally was resigned to just watch and wait for us to finish!  He was quite the good sport and received rave reviews on upon our exit! Gosh, as I type this I am watching PBS again of course..  I am now watching a show that is featuring EGGS.. How cool is that? 
Here is a link to a PDF version of Burt Wolfe's Show..  It features these eggs! 

My friend W's Egg..  I think this one is inspired!

G's egg!  She is so gifted!

My egg finished.  

This is the other egg I made.... I didn't want to stare at another picture and "copy"  but I couldn't think of what to make either.. so it is a scribble egg!  Not a scrambled on.. Ha Ha!!  Ok, I know my humor is terrible..

 The eggs are all still RAW.. we are supposed to just turn them occasionally and they will dry out!  How crazy is that!  I am so excited!  ( Oh, and you pray they don't crack, because then your whole house will stink REAL BAD!)

But they are fun!

If you'd like to make this style of eggs go to..   The Ukrainian Gift Shop  

These eggs are amazing!



 So this is what I really want you to take a minute and check out..  



One of my friends called me today!  He shared with me a video that he saw featured on CNN.  Since he knows I am interested in things to do with people that have Service Dogs, he shared this with me.

This is another Service Dog video  this was just featured on CNN.. about fighting for rights..  Thanks to Kevin Stone and his Service Dog Mambo as well as Luis Carlos Mantovan and his Service Dog Tuesday  for fighting for the rights of Veterans to have them covered by insurance!  

I can surely say I am better off for having Luka in my life.  I take less medications, I am more active than I previously was with out him.  I am also happier and I also look forward to more things in general.  Even if I am still not out and about like I was before my accident, after having him I am having a significantly better quality of life.  I of course think they should be covered by all insurance companies.. but I am not asking for a miracle.. These veterans DESERVE to have the best quality of life they can have.  They have fought for our freedom!  Treat them well! 

By the way, this friend is preparing to go to Afghanistan to support the effort there.  He gets orders to leave soon. 

Blessings and Thanks For All That You Do!

Pink Doberman

ScEnTs aBiLiTy..

YES, I read other blogs.. I would imagine that everyone has figured this out by now.  I find very boring things very interesting and I like living vicariously through others.  So I "lurk" on unknown people's blogs if the topic suits me.

I guess that is how it is supposed to work anyway.  And I really like it that way!  I am learning quite allot.  I've been following a neurology blog, a few photography blogs, crafting and I've started knitting.  I think that should be a surprise because two needles would have to be harder than one, .. You'd think... RIGHT???

Well, since I never mastered the crochet thing.. one needle with a HOOK!  Yeah, I am not giving up.  I've decided.  I think I just need someone to show me.  I have that perfect someone in mind too!

But for now I will be focusing in knitting.  I am happy about that.  You see I have a friend, and she just learned from a friend...  and this friend new to knitting too, just taught me!  It was like magic!  I am sure everyone is going to be much better at it than me, as I have done so many things wrong already!

Taken out rows, missed stitches.... forgot which side I was working on and totally ended a few rows mid stick...  ( I don't even know all of the words.  I just remember I am not a picker) But I did read about that and I'd like to be... noticed that that is the FASTER way to do it!  Hmmmmmm........ the gears are turning...

In the meantime I was reading a completely different blog tonight.  It reminded me of many friends whom I have that have a certain sensitivity.  My mother is the first person to bring this to my attention years and years ago.  She was a great Career Counselor.  She would talk about how you really should not wear perfume in work environments.  Ideally not in places with groups of people in confined spaces either.

So she would never wear any scented products to her job.  I can't recall if one of her co-workers had a scent sensitivity or if she just did that in case someone would happen to come into the office who did.



I personally have always preferred shower gels and lotions.  They aren't heavy, the amount of oil in these products is quite minimal and the scent does not stick around in most cases that long. 

While reading this blog about Work Scentsitivities..  I recalled my mothers actions.  I also have several friends with sensitivities to scents.  Some of the people I know have some very strong reactions.

I was also reminded last summer, that some people have SEVERE allergies to animals.  Including dogs, so I also need to be aware of that also.  However a mild allergy or one that can be controlled with medications is not reason enough for me to leave Luka out I just try to be sensitive and not stick around very long.  As you and I am sure realize many people who have pet allergies, have the very pets they are allergic to living in their homes..    But the few amount of people that have very disabling allergies, are a reason for us both to work together to accommodate each other.  Take turns, or what ever..  It is important that people with Service Dogs be aware that they may be around a person with a life threatening disability.  In this case every effort must be made by the business as well as the individuals to be rational and mutually respectful.

A non life threatening allergy would not necessarily be something to warrant much difference.. but to be polite everyone should do what they can of course.  At least that is the way I have come to understand the laws regarding those who have Service Dogs.


  Feel free to add your comments.

So at any rate.  Please also be careful of the amount of perfume you choose to wear!  I try too.  I have a friend who is fine with lotion on me... but her daughter wanted some..  it made her daughter very fragrant... and since her daughter is pretty little yet.. mom still snuggles up and holds her up to her face..





Not to fun for mom who isn't good with many scents.. 

Think about your actions... just be considerate and tolerant.  We are all different! 

  Don't forget to check out this workplace post and learn a bit more about wearing fragrances in the work place.

Blessings,
Pink Doberman

bUt, YoU DoN't LoOk DiSaBLeD???

I am devoting my entire post today to what I saw on a fellow blogger's post. 
Please check this out!  It is so worth it!

But You Don't Look Disabled!  (Scroll down once you reach the page to find the post.) Then click PLAY!


Let me know what you think! 

I personally think I am differently abled ;)!

Blessings,
Pink Doberman
... Thanks TED!