last week's socks

These are technically monster socks. Knit from some left over Sock It To Me navy and an unknown German sock yarn that had been gifted, reclaimed and (obviously) skeined backwards. Comfortable and they just went through their first wash. I did a simple 3 stitch cable and ribbing. I ripped them out and reknit them as the first (pictured pattern) was a 3 stitch cable alternating L and R cables and it pulled in too much to be comfortable getting over the heel. The top photos are of the 2nd knit, actual finished and wearable sock.

Ginger had a birthday!

Due to dementia, I robbed her of a year. Fortunately she caught it because heaven knows she doesn't want to have to repeat the last year! We had a small surprise party for her and though she isn't generally keen on such things, she was a good sport. Kelly and the Molly's La Casita staff gave her gorgeous flowers! I made her a caramel turtle cheesecake and she got some cute cards. Next year we're planning a big 50th celebration at the house with a BBQ cookout.

Alton Brown Feasting on Asphalt, The River Run

The entire family volunteered during Alton's visit to The Pink Palace. While I wish we had better photos, we were busy helping others take their photos, get information for the newsletter and generally helping all 400 people get their minute with him. He is, always, gracious, warm, genuine and fully attentive to each individual who comes to see him. Talented, smart, and gracious. I can pretty much guarantee he's one in a million. Sorry the photos s*ck, I swear, I took great ones of everyone else (with their cameras!) When he was leaving he asked if I was going to be there the next time he came. I wasn't sure if I had upset him! But he really was joking. ::whew!:: I was beat. Completely exhausted. Dementia is sucking the life out of me, but this was an investment. I do, slightly wish we had been standing in line and actually gotten to have a good photo with him and we all really wish he had been in a setting where he could speak to his fans. He is a wonderful and entertaining speaker. Maybe the magic fairies will let us visit the Good Eats Set when we take William to Atlanta for his next Kendo team practice? (HA!) Need more A.B. fixes? Try these: http://www.chow.com/stories/11061 (older, but still a great read; http://www.roadfly.com/magazine/14/alton_brown.1.html)

The Farm School at Home Experience Day

a Day at The Farm with other homeschoolers. A BLAST!

Sock it TWO me

Over a month ago I CO for a pair of Sock it to me socks of my own design (always). While a long and complicated Kendo tournament was going on, I had long passed the heel turn and was knitting merrily away only to discover that the socks were never going to get over my heel. The twisted cable simply sucked up too much width! I frogged these! Oh the pain.
Now, a month later, here is the completed pair. No cables, nothing fancy. The most boring pair of socks on the planet, but they are very comfy.

"What's for Seder?"

It's the time again! This year, for the first year, we will not be hosting annual rollicking seder. You can thank dementia for stealing this from you. Sorry! I am just not up to it. I have been going downhill a bit. I hope to regain the lost ground, but right now can not manage to organize and cook and clean for 20, or even 12 so I asked the family to have a "just us 4" seder. They agreed. William's only concern? Would I still make chicken soup with matzah balls? Of course! While I traditionally make an orange baked chicken and kugel, william has also asked for roast. Much easier and I'm happy to comply. We'll shop today. He helped me Kasher the kitchen Wednesday. The rest of the house is a little iffy and we'll just be grateful there's a prayer to let the unfound chametz be null and void. Chag Sameach!

Field Trip to Botanic Garden

William took photos

Molly, Fudge and a few cats

The Sunroom chronicles

Out smarting the killer

Since being diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia two years ago, I have made some changes to my life. I alluded to them in the previous post. For the sake of others living and loving every second of life left, here's my list of changes. As always, take what works and leave the rest! As we say in the hiking world, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

1. Embrace life. Yes, the illness is fatal, but you're not dead yet! LIVE
2. Eliminate stress, simplify your environment
3. Eliminate High Fructose Corn syrup (glucose fructose) from diet
4. Eliminate artificial sweeteners (even Splenda) from diet
5. Eliminate plastic containers for cooking and drinking (try this cool new bottle!)
   
6. increase cayenne pepper and turmeric in daily meals, eat whole foods, local when possible
   
7. exercise daily or as often as possible
8. Lose nasty people, negative-energy-sucking "friends" and chronic "worriers"
   
9. laugh, hug and love the ones who remain in the inner sanctum
10. Aricept 10 mg
11. Namenda 5 mg BID
12. B12 1000 mcg, B6 100 mg, Melatonin 3mg, Gingo Biloba 120 mg, Gotu Kola 475 mg, Lecithin 1200 mg, Fish Oil 1000 mg (I buy online from Vitacost, great prices)
    
13. Daily alcoholic drink, red wine, margarita, etc. (you may like chocolate better!)
14. ROUTINE, make one and keep one.
15. Support of like minded people. Join DASN and meet for daily chats, emails etc
    

Thoughts on testing, diagnosis and the delicate balance between good and evil.

I have learned a great deal from the DASN regulars. Learned to continue to seek answers even when various physicians were not helpful or encouraging. I learned to listen to those who had gone before me, which is a big lesson in Judaism, and has come easily. I learned to balance my energy and simplify my life. To keep my life joyful and peaceful. To do what counts and leave the rest. Somehow in the midst of those wonderful lessons, I have slogged through several different doctors and diagnostic tests. This week finds me finishing something I started 2 years ago. A research study in NYC that follows people with early onset dementias. Knowing that my life is good, that I have found the way to keep managing, I truly did not want to come back to finish this study. It is disrupting the balance. It is short-lived and I am grateful for a wonderful mom who has come with me and a great wife who is managing work and full-time teenage boys while I'm gone. I do not care to stress myself out over the memory tests. I see no greater glory in enduring poor patient care and non-empathetic medical staff. I will complete this round of the study, but if contacted again, I will decline. Keeping the balance, for me, is about enjoying what is ahead of me, right in front of me. I'd rather push my cognitive reserve to get a kid to a Kendo tournament than push it to answer hours of questions and negotiation airlines and hotels in a distant city.
As Nanny McPhee said "Lesson, learned" (and the wart is going to disappear friday about 6p when I touch down in Memphis and kiss the wife and kids.)

Mom at Molly's la Casita

Before Mom and I went to NYU for research testing, we had a great dinner at Molly's. I could use one of those margarita's about now.