Fridays Are The Best

Published October 24, 2016 by helentastic67

cat-friday

Fridays Are the Best!

I confess to say I don’t work! I prefer to say I’m retired, however the image that conjures is wealth and comfort and holidays. That’s the complete opposite of my version of retirement.

But my confession is not about that it is that despite not being able to work right now, I really enjoy and look forward to Fridays! No, really!

Friday for me means everything that needed to be done, was done. And on Fridays I go shopping with my Carer, young Janus.

car-stereo

I park a CD or MP3 player and despite it being a short drive to the local shopping complex, we rock out to some tunes! On one occasion another Carer (51) took me shopping. I parked a CD however her son had given her a CD so we listened to Eminem instead. At one point we stopped at a busy crossroad for traffic and she was compelled to turn it down. It was funny, I was laughing so hard I was in tears. I commented to her about Eminem (every other word was the F*Bomb!) I mean why is Eminem having such a hard time in life?” (It’s rhetorical BTW)

Another time recently, one of my other regular Carers (55, whom I’d seen previous 3 days already) took me shopping. I mentioned a CD and she shot me down! I just gave it to her “You’re boring!”

I joked, she was going on the ‘Blocked list’ for shopping! So, that added bonus to Friday is listening to music when I’m out encourages me to come home and put on more music.

And to say music is my best motivator is a vast understatement.

Since returning from shopping, I’ve re-potted a plant/reorganised some cook books, painted the 1^st coat of a tray I bought over a year ago (shuddup! It’s been a process) and I’ve already got a head start on tonight’s ‘admin!’

The sure sign that my week is over is when I’m sitting on the couch with my daily coffee and my Friday treat! Which is a Custard Scroll.

-almond_and_custard_scroll coffee-1

Preferable, I’ve even had my lunch way before 5.30pm. It’s rare, but has been known to happen.

By the end of tonight, I do my admin and put my diary aside until Sunday night!

Saturday’s, I go off-grid! No emails! No Facebook! No diary! No appointments!

Sunday’s I try to pull the weekend back together, to do ‘all-the-things I’ve not done and then Monday it all starts again!

The end.

Week So Far!

Published October 21, 2016 by helentastic67

Week so far

Week So Far!

Monday went to a DDAC (Darebin Disability Advisory Committee) meeting as a BIM member (sorry Brain Injury Matters) and a local resident. As have recently participated in some training (VATT) Voice at the Table Training so I can attend meetings and have my opinion be heard and valued. Rather than just being a token member with a disability.

I’d be happy to go to a meeting and not feel inclined to go to a meeting and find myself facilitating. Impossible!

They asked me to be a member of the DDAC! There were some ‘Service Providers’ at the meeting who are obviously concerned they won’t have a job when the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme in case you missed it), gets rolled out across the North/East of Melbourne.

They like to ‘bang on’ about being there for their clients who have little independent living skills or might be intellectually handicapped, but it take me to tell that person she needs to change ‘hats’ when she’s at those meetings. She needs to put on her ‘Advocacy-Hat!’ and not be wearing her ‘Self Advocacy hat!’

advocacy-hat

People seem to go to those meetings with their ‘problems’ and there never seems to be a sharing of how to ‘problem solve’ these issues.

People don’t know how to solve them or who to go to, to fix said problems.

Anyway, left DDAC and went to have 2^nd x-ray to find out what’s causing pins and needles in my right hand.

FYI That’s my good hand!

hand-x-ray

X-ray of the day was of my ‘upper back/spine/right shoulder’ (Note: despite having to go up a flight of stairs they couldn’t do the lower back x-ray at the same time. Had to book to go back Tuesday.

Had planned to ‘smash out’ the last Episode of Walking/talking Dead before Chiropractors.

Rang Darebin HACC (Home and Community Care) to arrange a Carer so I could get to 3^rd x-ray and spent the next hour being bullied because people can’t read the DAMN FILE!!!

Got a migraine and was in bed by 11.30pm. When I’m in bed that early for the night, you need to consider ‘Will Helen Wake Up Dead??’

So it’s now Wednesday afternoon and I’m still feeling seedy from the migraine.

Super week so far!!!

Where to Start

Published October 17, 2016 by helentastic67

latte

Where to start?

It’s been maybe a week since I last put pen to paper and I’ve been busy living ‘Life’ as crappy as ‘Life’ is these days!

Oh! Stop press! My Latte just arrived and the lovely wait staff (he’s new) misinterpreted my visits here as me doing ‘WORK!’

Working in Cafe

Every Wednesday, I visit my favourite Café. Ideally I’m all blogged-out with nothing to write about and I might switch off and read a comic.

Otherwise it is good to have “Lunch” at a reasonable time for the midday meal!

Because from here I commence what I refer to as my “Punchy/stabby” day. That translates to my weekly Chiropractic appointment, followed by a tram ride back up to my neighbourhood where I see an Acupuncturist.

chiropractor accupuncture

I like meeting people here for meetings as they have gotten to know me here. I no longer have to explain my disability to the regulars and I now seem “Normal” to them.

But the new ‘young’ guy doesn’t know my past, my issues and just sees me here as a ‘Professional’. Having my meetings and writing/working on my blog!

Comics – Part 2

Published October 14, 2016 by helentastic67

comic-book-page

Comics – Part 2

Sometimes I move on from writing a post and I wonder if I have covered everything I wanted to say? And I wonder if I actually made my point? Often the issue.

Going back to Comics and how little I read these days, it is often social media worthy when I manage to read and finish a comic! Last year I finished a particular comic and was quite “chuffed” with myself until I noticed inside the back cover a promo for something upcoming “Coming Soon September 11 2011! WTF!

I am so far behind! Not helping!

I actually have a system how organising the now last 5 years of comic purchases so they are organised just waiting for me to read them!

bookself-comics

Onwards!!!!

'Where in the world did I put the book, 'How to Organize Your Home Library'?'

Comics – Part 1

Published October 10, 2016 by helentastic67

comic-speech-bubbles-of-explosions Comics

And I’m excited to announce I actually finished reading a comic yesterday! A comic!! I know right? Comics not much reading involved because the pictures tell so much of the story.

It might surprise people to know, I used to read a lot! I always had a book on my bedside table and would go to bed at night to read a few chapters before sleep.

bedside-table-1

I’ve always been an avid reader, crime novels, murder mysteries and when my favourite authors have slacked off (in between) I would collect a pile of bodice-rippers from the library.

I guess, this leads me to what is the last thing I have lost and I hope it is the last thing I do to lose.

I find myself standing in shops and on streets looking for something or someone and who or what I’m looking for will be in my blind spots.

I actually will do some isles in the supermarket twice so that I don’t miss stuff.

I find I squint a lot in general. While sitting in a parked car or café, or I have a grumpy look on my face. I refer to that facial expression as my ‘Default face!’ Others refer to it as my “Resting Bitch Face!” Charming.

resting-bitch-face

When I’m out with young Janus, shopping and maybe when we get to the checkout he will ask what’s wrong.

Normally I banter all the way around the supermarket and if I’m quiet he is concerned I’m not well. I usually respond with ‘I’ve powered down’. Or have gone into ‘sleep mode’ and if he’s particularly concerned I’ll just tell him ‘I’m Okay! I’m not having a stroke!’

Oh, good times…………….

Smashed it!

Published October 6, 2016 by helentastic67

messy-kitchen

Smashed it

Totally smashed it!

There are times I really hope my Carer doesn’t turn up in the morning, take one look at the state of my kitchen and walk out claiming stress leave.

I do know when some of my Carers look at the state of the kitchen and grumble a little at the mess, but I also know they inhale as they walk in the door and inquire as to the aroma.

coffee-pot

I’m generally grateful if it’s incense or essential oils and not kitty litter.

But tonight I completely smashed it in the kitchen. For a one-handed numpty I have big ideas and I’m lazy for days but then put some music on and get lots of ingredients out until there’s not much space to work with and about 2 hours later, I’ve achieved brilliance. Or at least I think so.

Tonight, while drinking my coffee while standing, I smashed out some pancakes, mushrooms baskets and a cauliflower and white sauce bake…

making-pancakes

And the dishwasher is currently on and possibly going on again later.

I didn’t get to the simple Napoli sauce or the “whatever the other thing I intended to make” but I’m sure I can do that tomorrow night!

napoli-sauce

It’s not quite 8.30pm and I’m still eating dinner tonight earlier than last 4 nights.

SMASHED IT!

Advise

Published October 4, 2016 by helentastic67

advice

Advice

Some people have great advice for me on what I can and should be able to do. I appreciate they’ve given it some thought. However, their advice is based on them NOT HAVING TO DO IT ONE HANDED!

Wonder if I made my point? Wonder if anyone’s still reading this post? It’s hard to tell.

Last night, Easter Sunday my neighbour bought me down some cake (Yum) and 6 prawns. (I don’t get it) We have a thing. I introduce her to foody goodness and she brings me treats, soups, I have given to neighbours and friends over the years in the hopes that it will express to people who I am and what I’m about. I finally have a neighbour who thinks to return the favour. Love her!

Anyway, the prawns, I know she meant well and I realise it didn’t occur to her I’d struggle to take the shells off. I wasn’t thinking of Megi (yes that’s her name – love her) so the prawns I gave it a go. But after all the effort I had a nibble and understood this rubbery concept even less. And then I gave them to the cat! No one can say she isn’t looked after.

Here are some pictures, before and after.

Whole Prawns attempt prawns final result

I do like a good challenge.

Jamima and prawns

Dumb Down

Published September 30, 2016 by helentastic67

ambulance

Dumb Down

There have been three occasions I’ve been in an Ambulance in the middle of the night to go to hospital and a third where my mum took me to hospital in her racing car, but that led to an aeroplane ride but that can wait!

Generally, anytime I have to go to hospital when it’s an emergency, I am feeling beyond ‘seedy’. My head generally hurts so much I’ve already taken every pain killer I can that should work and maybe a sleeping pill so I can try to sleep it off.

migraine-pain

If that fails and because I live alone, I might go to hospital so I don’t wake up dead the next morning, if it’s more than I think it is.

Once at the hospital and the customary poking and prodding and interrogation, I’m usually given a few more pills, oxygen and a warm blanket.

They usually let me sleep and the next day when the staff are in and before they release me they will do a C.T. scan to confirm their suspicions. And that is that, I just have some brain swelling/I did too much/I need to rest and sleep.

I love when they go to do the C.T. scan and to remind me (as if they have to) the difference between a CT and an MRI.

In case you don’t know,

“The CT scan is when you get rolled into the big donut or as I see it (lifesaver) and the MRI is the BIG TUNNEL!

ct-scanner mricutaway

Dinner

Published September 26, 2016 by helentastic67

preparing-dinner

Dinner

Okay, here’s a picture of my dinner! Let’s start with that.

Please be mindful, while it looks huge, it’s full of salad. I’m a big multi-tasker, especially in the kitchen.

Sometimes, I set several things out of the fridge and prepare (chop, peel etc) for days in advance, so some parts of meals I can add to other meals up to a week later.

salad-1

Here’s what I had for dinner tonight.

Lettuce, cucumber and carrot (both peeled) salad with dressing of salt, oregano, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, 3 veg stir-fry (usually had with BBQ chicken) Moroccan cous cous salad (yes bought that) and finished with BBQ chicken chopped up and fried lightly with Portuguese chicken spices and a small serve of BBQ chicken stuffing, heated.

bbq-salad

Happy!

And have leftovers for a second meal.

Botox

Published September 23, 2016 by helentastic67

botoks_allergan_ilac

Botox

I’ve had Botox! Four times for free! Ask me how!

Okay, this is how I like to break the news to people because the only thing people have heard of Botox being used for, is to pump in the lines on their faces to get rid of the wrinkles.

But people get it for other things.

They might get it injected into their scalp, armpits or even a woman’s bladder. http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/news/20150515/botox-overactive-bladder

sweat-glands

The bladder, I’ve not heard much about, but the first two I hear it helps with perspiration problems.

Keep in mind, in no way, shape or form am I doing a sales pitch for Botox (botulinum Toxin)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin

Hear me when I say this; it is the MOST TOXIC THING YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR BODY.

But anyway, I haven’t been lucky enough to want/need it for vanities sake!

I’ve had it out of necessities sake.

Twice in my arm and twice in my calf for what’s called Spasticity!

bent-wrist

People who suffer ‘stroke’ or ‘stroke like symptoms’ like myself will have an arm that won’t relax and straighten. In extreme cases, some people will have a hand that will not open.

Imagine what happens if you can’t wash or dry your hand. It can lead to other problems, like a stroke is not enough. Broken skin conditions don’t help.

They are very careful with where and how to inject exactly the right muscle for the best effect…

In the correct muscle in the arm, it relaxes other muscles lower down in the arm and ideally the hand. It’s ideal to have a good STRETCH OF THE hand to be able to work on the hand.

It’s every important to do a lot of OT at this time to maximise the benefits of the Botox.

Because after 3-4 months the Botox wears off and hopefully when the muscles that were ‘relaxed’ by the Botox wake-up there is a better balance between those muscles and the ones exercise have been working on.

You generally don’t have Botox all the time because you can build up an immunity to it.

I always like to use the example that one day all those faces in Hollywood will simultaneously drop. Sad face?

I might do a You tube demo to show what Botox in the calf is for…………………………….

injection-sites