wiremanranch

Thats great to hear about the psychologist and sounds like the visit went pretty good. My wife and I both went in for the first sesions and it helped both of us with understanding. And towards the end I just went in by myself. I do deal with things differently now, next step is for me to reduce my meds. Terry

This is a good caregiver/survivor song or just a good tune. Terry

Good to hear everything worked out the easy way. (RV dealers can be a pain sometime.) I enjoy traveling with the rv. I have seen allot of neat places and met allot of people along the way. And you are doing the best thing.... enjoying your life! Have fun with that new motorhome! Terry

It's working so far. I handle situations much better then I used too. I wish I would have went a long time ago. My anxiety level is going down and the plan is to reduce some of my meds this year. I do not think I will be anxiety free but maybe I can deal with it in a better way other then medication. That will be my goal. Terry

Well I finished up with my psychologist last week. It was a good experience. He helped me look at the big picture. I approach things better now. I learned to accept things as they are. That I am accepting the new me. It took almost six years to figure that one out. :Scratch-Head: But I am a little slow. I am glad I did go. I had to complete a training class for a whole week at work. I was in a room all week for training, one on one training. My biggest fear was not allowing anyone to see my deficiencies and I was always trying to hide them, or worried someone would notice one. The training went well, I thought my memory would be an issue but it held up just fine. We covered allot of different material, robotics, motion control, interfaces. I did ok. I actually missed one day due to some other issue at work and I made it up last week. So it did not turn in to doom and gloom as I had thought. And , so what if I have a few things wrong with me. Who doesn't? Acceptance has set me free. Terry

So it's spring right? I got up this morning to check the status of the winter storm. I looked at the driveway.... went out to our little township road..... Nope, I was not going to make it to work in my Honda Accord. So what else do I have to do? I'll clean the driveway. Hop on the tractor, and I begin to clean the drive. Snow is heavy so i am using the loader bucket. Got to the sidewalk to the back deck. Got stuck.... slid and hit the side of the house! Put a hole in the siding. Started fixing the siding. Siding fixed! I should have went to work! Terry

Wow I missed allot. I think the guy should have sugar coated it a little. You still have more tests to complete. And I think it is way to much information for a preliminary visit. Is this the cardiologist or you PCP ? And doctors do not know everything. They mis-diagnose everyday. And their is hope and other probabilities. Can you see another specialist for another opinion? I seen two nuero's when I had my stroke. One said I had a stroke the other said I had MS. The guy that told me I had MS was wrong. It was my first visit with him. Wait until all the tests come back in. You are a survivor.

The ship is called Monarch of the Seas. Owned by Royal Caribbean.( it was built in 1991 and refurbished in 2003) RCI is selling it in April so we will be one one of the last to sail with her. We will be leaving out of Port Canaveral . Four night cruise to the Bahamas to Nassau. Ok for my first cruise My BIL planned it. It should be nice. And we never do anything on the wife's side of the family. I'll have to go on a little diet when I come back. : ) Terry

*******The song I posted in my previous blog. From can to can't. Listen to it. Cory taylor ( Slip Knot, Stone Sour) David Ghrol Nirvana, Foo Fighters. It is what i would consider a survivors song. Look at my previous blog or you tube it.

We just got back from a Smokey Mountain trip with the entire family. We rented a cabin for our Christmas. Just happened to schedule in Feburary . It was awesome. Then somehow I got suckered in a cruise. A week latter. Turmoil for me. i am a planner. This trip a four day cruise to the Bahamas. My first cruise.( Maybe my last) ; ) I am going with my wife's side of the family. Of course i got the premium beverage package. So maybe some relieve. It is more of a gambling cruise, Alantas. I think I will go to Senor Frogs LOL . Hopefully my caretaker will not desert me or I might be a fallen soldier . LOL Either way the deck is stacked against me. I am not depressed. Just me. : ) Hopefully that drink package is all that it is supposed to be, or I am in trouble............ Wish me luck .

I was concerned with life insurance. I did get turned down for pre existing (stroke) a few times. My work group life plan also turned me down from increasing what I had. They switched companies and was offering additional coverage without health screenings. They initially turned me down. But I was persistent, and they approved it later.

This is from the sound city soundtrack. Sound city was a recording studio back in the day before they went digital. All the legendary performers were there. They made a movie and a soundtrack , it is out this month. This is one song from the soundtrack. it has one little riff :goodjob: in it, But other then that it is a really neat song.Hopefully the link works

I totally agree with what you are saying. I am just now starting to "get" it. It has been way too long, but I am trying to accept me not what I used to be. It is allot harder then anything that I have ever done before. Being honest with myself.

Now that is a good memory. My father is a great grand father. I was never fortunate enough to meet my great grand fathers they were gone before I had the chance.

Yesterday was my second visit to the psychologist . I went the first time and was a little taken back by him noticing that I had a slight speech impediment. (Which i do have) He sent me home with a cd and an appointment for a follow up in two weeks. I canceled the appointment, and later decided to reschedule. This session went better. It's all information gathering now. He is trying to figure me out. I think I could do myself but I am too deep in the woods and cannot see over the tree tops. i am 5 1/2 years post and still have not accepted me. The new me. I think the therapy with the relaxation techniques will help me manage some of my anxiety. And what will be tough is letting go of the old me and my expectations. I set the bar pretty high for myself and I know I am going to have to lower it . The scary part is this guy is starting to make a little sense now. Terry

I think you are in the drivers seat now! As for the bricks, maybe skip them. If i had my choice ( and I have a hard head : ) I would have to pick banging my head against the brick. I would have a better chance busting through the wall.

That is great! At least now you can control when and where with a phone call. Which you sure that is a hill in your yard or a mountain?

Ok I hate snow. But when you give an example like that I love it! In Ohio (where I am at) it is a little flat. We have to improvise with a four wheeler and tug the sled. Just gotta watch out for the poles! LOL

My Bro in Law has a Shih-tzu. She has the little girl syndrome and acts like a princess. She is funny. Now if you don't mind a little shedding I would suggest an English Bulldog. Ours is named Daisy and besides her rugged good looks they are very entertaining. She is a little energetic, but typically just kinda lays around. LOL We take her camping and she sits in a chair next to me . She likes everyone and is scared of everything. Good luck in your search.

I like the nuts/bolts idea. Just anything to improve dexterity. My hand is maybe 30/40 % numb all the time but I do compensate and can handle almost any task. I had a screwdriver I had a work and i kept flipping it all the time until i got really good at the repeatability and it helped with my hand coordination. (Something to entertain an ol' maintenance guy) Enough for me to play on my own and see an improvement. That is great about his hand! Terry

1. What do you want- Memories with my family. 2. What do you need- Time. 3. What is your greatest fear- Not being able to take care of myself. 4. What is your dearest wish- Live live to the fullest. 5. What do you need to be happy- No anxiety. 6. What is your ambition- To be normal. No medication for my anxiety. 7. What is your greatest talent- Optimistic. Problem solving. 8. What is your most formidable obstacle- My stroke deficits. 9. Who is your worst enemy- Myself 10. With what part of life are you satisfied- I am not yet. My Grandchildren. 11. What is your misery in live- My ball and chain.... Anxiety 12. What part of your life would you change a failed effort- None. Need learning experiences. 13. What part of your life would you change in the next year.- Try not to get chubby. 14.What is your mission- Live Live

50 movies now that would be tough. I looked up your last one. Tank Girl! A little H20 and Joan Jett and Ice T . Now that is a combination!

I won't even bother to plow the driveway out with two-six inches of snow. : ) (Well maybe if no wind) This winter is crappy. One day it's 19 degrees and the next day we get up in the 50's. Everyone at work is sick, got over it, getting sick again. I have a bad sinus infection. Trying to tough it out. Not working well. I think I will invest in a government surplus flame thrower ( they have to have one laying around) and use that to take care of my drive way . This way I can melt the snow and keep a little warn at the same time. Beats getting on the tractor and freezing my butt off. Hmm... that might work. Terry

I did say"little"....... : )

Ok I'm going to try. 10 things I like about me 1. I am dependable 2. I am a planner. 3. I stand up for what I believe in. 4. I don't give up. 5. I play to win. 6. Keeping my word is important. ( I say what I do, I mean what I say) 7. I value friendship. 8. I value each moment 9. I live life to the fullest. 10. I am just a little tame. : ) Done! Terry