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I'm glad my timing to toddle back to this forum was in sync with you posting. It seems I missed much with you. I'll have to back-read your blogs and find out what trouble you've been getting up to. Good to read you're having some good days and I'm sorry to read you've had a bad run. On the topic of your doggie love... ... I bought a little girl last Oct. at 8 weeks old. She's a pom/yorkie mix (porkie), named Pi. I've always been a dog lover and after my stroke, my daughter had to take my 12 year old lab to her house. I lived in a second floor condo and had no way to take her out. My lab passed away in 2011 and I thought last year was time to get another companion. I never, ever thought I'd have a dog the did its business in the house, but, she does, on potty pads. She's 5lbs of furry entertainment. I hope youre enjoying Molly as much. talk later, must finish a hot flash in another room. xox, Lisa

That's one of loveliest and touching dates I've ever heard of.

Tiny Tim crutches... that made me laugh! Giving up isn't an option, ever. I've seen some results of that and it's not pretty. I am picturing you cheering and waving those crutches Gimme an S, gimme a T, gimme a O..well you know where I'm going with that. Thanks,Jamie, we're a couple of toughies.

it's a 'nother. Seems the small stumbling blocks, literally, with stroke are often what impedes our recovery. Which in turn affects our attitude and optimism in all this mess. I suppose I need to accept that it is going to be that way. It's difficult to reserve the expectation of the other shoe dropping when I'm in the midst of having a small high of progress and hope of enjoying things in a small way. But then, I tend to be very gung-ho and might bring some of this down on myself. Recently, I'd been enjoying walks outdoors. It felt great and I was getting much needed exercise.So, naturally, my 'good' knee develops a problem.Bursitis from overuse and walking badly. It's put those walks and much else, on hold. Clunk goes that shoe. Last year it was seizures. It doesn't take much to halt working on recovery in a way you feel passionate about.. In the scheme of the stroked;I have little to complain about. I met one guy fighting cancer and trying to recover and quite a few others with broken bones to contend with along with stroke. I'm just remarking, not complaining.I know life was like this prestroke, but it takes far less now, to take the wind from of my sails. Perspective, perspective, I'm trying to regain it and not be childish about how things don't go my way. The rehab gym usually takes care of that for me. I'll be able to go back tomorrow, I think, after a hiatus due to the knee. It'll all be put in the proper light then, surrounded by many people contending with far greater challenges than stroke . Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.

Jamie, at least a picture you took will bring back the feeling you had at that moment. Someone else's pictures don't do that for me. Skies and seas are my favorite memories. Life can't get any simpler or more content enjoying either. Lisa

Fred, I have a reader and haven't used it. Tech stuff is really difficult for me post stroke. I finally told my family to please not buy me anything I have to learn how to use. I've been listening to audio books because I can do other things while I listen. I read a lot prestroke and now books are difficult to concentrate on and uncomfortable to hold and turn pages; so I don't. The audio books are a way to have a version of what I love back in my life. Also, I'm always surprised how many common words I've mispronounced all of my life. Yesterday it was 'dour'. I always thought it rhymed with 'sour'. But no, it sounds like 'door'.Who knew! If you want, check with your library for audio books, They're free and some libraries have availability for downloading the books from your home computer. Best deal ever, in my estimation. Lisa

that I only think of visiting,reading and writing here when it's close to my bedtime?... Rhetorical, really. I've always been a night owl and get more pensive as the hours creep toward morning. It's nearly midnight and I can see the sun setting hues through new leaves on the birch tree out my window, It won't set all the way this time of year. It will dip and curtsy toward twilight, leaving just a slice on the horizon, and ascend again brightly by 3:00 A.M. It doesn't do much good to think what I would and did prestroke in my Summers; but I do think about the last time I hiked at midnight along a ridge and sat on the grass and breathed in those colors that defy paint or cameras, as you can't capture the essence and trill of our ancestry witnessing the events of the sky. I'm into audio books lately and finished my run of the incomparable Margret Atwood and her absolute succinct prose in expressing the truth in human nature and experience. *tips hat* Tonight, I've started listening to 'Gimp by Mark Zupan http://en.wikipedia...._Zupan_(athlete) I'd seen his documentary prestroke and can now have, if not a more appreciative view, a more empathetic view. I was wowed by his accomplishments when I first saw him and now there is depth to my wow. Half the people I talk to in the rehab gym are spine injuries and I'd like a better understanding of the conditions and the ability to ask inoffensive questions with some idea of the variances in damage.Nearly as interesting as stroke, nearly. : ) My eyes are getting fuzzy and there is only a creamsicle of color left in the sky. It must be time to be responsible and get some sleep.

Oy...youch! My best friend had that as well. I saw how much pain and discomfort the cysts caused her both in her underarms and groin area. She opted to get her underarms sweat glands removed since hers was nearly a constant painful condition. This was 20 or so years ago. I sincerely hope they've come up with better options/treatment by now. I took care of her, after basically having her armpits removed. Hope you're owie free for a long while after this. Lisa

I missed a game? If I knew there were going to be games; I'da checked in more often. My attention span is..oh look a bird! But seriously, that was very enjoyable to read,Jamie. As always, it strikes me about our similarities.

People shouldn't leave their apple carts in your way if they expect them to remain upright. You have that look about you. (((hug))) Lisa

Sorry for your family's loss. Safe travels. Lisa

Such a simple thing to be thankful for. A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

Somewhat of a personal milestone today. I walked a section of my prestroke walking route. Spring is really here and the city has cleaned the debris of Winter from the sidewalks, making it safe to venture out. I used to love my walks and mourned my inability to go on them the past two and a half years. I'd made a couple attempts in the past but really wasn't up to the challenges it presented Today, it wasn't how I'd envisioned it, but It's a start. My daughter went with me. I used a hiking pole to aid my balance and confidence. (a concession I wasn't willing to make until now) I was pretty fatigued from the rehab gym but was set on going. There is a paved trail that meanders through the wooded area of my neighborhood. It's funny, because I remembered it being flat and even...and it wasn't. There was a steep incline getting both on and off the trail. Things that were inconsequential prestroke are of paramount importance now.I made the incline solo but took my daughters arm going down since I was tired and toe-lift had deteriorated by that point. It might have amounted to1/2 to 3/4 of a mile walk and I was toast after.But I did it and will keep at it. This August I want to go to the State fair where there is a band appearing that I want to see. I wanted to go last year and a couple of friends suggested taking me in a WC. They don't understand my flat out refusal of the idea. They think I'm being difficult...and maybe I am... but so what. It was hard work to get out of the wheelchair, leave the walker behind and then set the cane aside. I want forward, not backward. So, me and my old hiking/walking pole will go to the fair this year and eat a pork chop on a stick and listen to the Avette Brothers and go home tired and accomplished. It's worth the work.

I can do it, but it's not easy or comfortable. Thanks for posting your success. I'll work on my rolling some more. I'd love to sleep on my left again. Lisa

A calm, quiet space to retreat sounds wonderful to me. I always feel trapped visiting people now. Kids running around or too many people and noise to absorb. It's always a relief to leave the over stimulation.We haven't had a trip away from home since my stroke, but your solution to the obstacles sounds great. Hope all goes well!

I am the Will Rogers of baked goods. I never met a cake I didn't like. Moist and abundant icing is a plus. I'm pretty much a cake voyeur these days since I've been trying to get back on the righteous path of healthy eating, after gaining 20 pounds this past winter : ( So, the only cake I can trust in the house is a 60 calorie single serve microwave recipe to quell a craving.

Yeah, talk cake to me ,baby. Glad it went well.

Cake and a dinner... you'll have an outlet for your love and concern for the day. I was the caretaker of everyone prestroke. I empathize with how hard it is not being able to dive in and drag people to shore.. I makes me ridiculously happy when I do simple things for people now. Feels like I'm in my old skin. Whatever you manage tomorrow, will be appreciated and make Kelly happy. hugs, Lisa

Maria, I'll have to think about what you've said. Strokes aside, Some folks are always looking for the quick fix. It's why Benny Hinn and psychic surgeons stay in business.Water and shark cartilage cures for cancer. Consistent gullibility and lack of applied critical thinking in some ways. I'll definitely reflect on the control and blame idea. Thank you.No one should feel to blame or deserving of any of this, but society naturally leads us to feel we are. But that's another blog entry. : ) Lisa

Asha, I watched this on Netflix instant last year or so. I thought it was excellent, not only for his expressions re: his stroke but that he represents an era and felt he was leading the way for his fellow baby boomers. I've been meaning to try to find an update on his recovery. Thanks for sharing this. I think most stroke survivors, at some point, can identify with the feeling of stroke giving us something rather than entirely taking away. Empathy and understanding has a cost. Lisa

Mark, You're leaving spam for your product in a blog about Quackery and Charlatans... lol dude.