Communication – Part 1

Published August 11, 2017 by helentastic67

Communication

Communications – Part 1

I’ve been told/accused really of being terrible at communicating. I think verbally and written I communicate my thoughts rather succinctly.

Some years ago, I was expressing this issue with a friend (let’s call him Fred). Now Fred to be clear has several TBI’s (Traumatic Brain Injury) from a car accident, but let’s not hold that against him.

TBI

He suggested I do a course he did in communications. Fred told me he had thought he was really good at communicating, but having participated in the course, he realised even he could improve.

I told him, I had no time to do a course, no cash and no ability to get to a College or University. He told me not to worry about it. It was FREE and she would come to me! What? Sounds too good to be true. Fred gave me her number and I rang her and it wasn’t an actual “Course” but I think it was more of a study. I had to explain, who I was how I had “gotten” my ABI (Acquired Brain Injury). Keeping in mind I was born with my AVM (Arterial Venus Malformation).

Listening skills

I thought I was having a decent conversation who actually seemed excited to be working with me. That sounded weird, but seriously.

Then she asked me when I’d had my CAR ACCIDENT?

Car accident

What?

I was not eligible for this communication course.

What’s worse than that is, this list of things.

I don’t have a communication problem
People have a hearing/listening problem.
All of these “research” trials are based on people with TBI’s because they can dip into the TAC bucket of money.
No one is doing any kinds of study on the different kinds of ABI/TBi’s and how they are different.

I think my communication is different to other types of ABI, particularly TBI (no offense to people with TBI’s). So many more things wrong with this…

failure_to_communicate_meme

Today’s Lunch – 8th August 2017

Published August 9, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays lunch

I know! I know!

It looks like I’m in an uninspired food rut at my fav cafe. But I’m not!
Today’s Arancini is bolognaise so, it tastes like a yummy saucy meaty risotto.
With the standard side salad.

Arancini

And my medicine.

My medicine
Enjoy,

Cheers,
H

Hot off the Press – 7th August 2017

Published August 7, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 070817

Hot off the Press coming to you through a week-long migraine.

Was lucky I had a 4-day weekend, Monday and Tuesday, I’ve been suffering some diary dyslexia. It’s my term for when two people are not booking the same day/date so I miss out on appointments. Monday night I was actually in bed by 11pm so this is a sign I might have been dying.
Tuesday I didn’t even have my medicine. (Coffee) as someone was due to drop over for coffee and they didn’t……..

My chiro has stopped asking what colour I want. Because I’d either say “black! Got any blacker?” Or “Give me the one that hurts the most when it comes off!” Of course, we both laugh!

Shoulder strapping

Three days later, I peel off the tape in the shower when its wet. If I’m lucky the light fuzz of hair has not grown back yet from the last time. I know, I’m not growing carpet back there but we all have light hair there. Oh, so the tape is to do the job of those muscles that don’t work. I would wear it all the time but, then the muscles would never work so its purpose is to give those muscles a break. And the muscles to my neck wont struggle so much. And maybe my migraine will give me a break as well.

You may have noticed a lack of my standard Wednesday mental health foodie post?
That was because I had company my friend Susanne. We both ordered the same thing, the Zaffaro Arancini with the side salad and a latte. I don’t often have company so it’s nice to take advantage of company and put comics and posts aside and we might eventually catch up on the backlog of my scribbling? No, probably never.

Susanna

Saturday morning, finally quit my damn email at 2am, I decided it was time to switch off the brain and single task. I have no idea who is turning up in the morning for my PC (personal Care) my carer provider is damn lucky I don’t name and shame.

2am

Several months ago, you might recall a house across from me went to auction. A two-bedroom BV.
So, yeah. There was an auction across the road 3 months ago. It was a typical 70’s wog BV (that’s Brick Veneer for people who didn’t grow up with a carpenter as a dad, a grandfather and several others) it sold for practically 1.1 million. Two mornings ago, they started ripping it down. They are fast! And at one point, the earth moved! I wondered if I should huddle in a doorway or the bath. FYI; we don’t get earthquakes or tornado’s in OZ. If that’s your thing, come on down! And today I opened my front door to see this!
Yeah! A big yellow box that it not for growing plants in.

Big Yellow Box

Only read ‘A’ comic last week. It all things considered…. migraine. I think I can be forgiven?
Also, I hit a blogging milestone last week! I now have 100 followers. As I convinced Susanne to follow so she wouldn’t miss any.

Single girl date night was substituted with a binge fest of a Melbourne show called, Offspring, I save up 3 episodes for an evening of pure unadulterated viewing. It’s the weird family dynamics where everyone gets way too involved in everyone’s lives. If Nina’s acting weird the extended family members want to join in to witness some crazy adventure. Best take away quote was “party pash and a poke!” Or something like that, it’s filmed on my side of town which is cool.

Offspring

Lastly, because I have been recently asked to explain my single status……..I am single because I’m fussy! And I no longer pick up roadkill! Because roadkill don’t always become decent human beings…….I shall plan better another time.

Single status
So for another busy week!
Cheers,
H

Week
And that’s it for another week.

Music

Published August 4, 2017 by helentastic67

Music

Music that is the making of serial killers, is the term for the “On Hold” music the government agency in Australia Stupidlink (yes, that’s my nickname for them, also a much politer term than others I’ve heard) and today, I realised why this piece of music is so terribly wrong.

Music on hold

Generally, music has the power to transport us through time and space, to old memories and places and things.

But this piece of music is different and I just realised why. The piece is classical in genre and it’s got cello and violins and it’s meant to be relaxing and soothing. I imagine it’s meant to calm people while they are on hold for up to an hour, but makes it impossible for you to fall asleep.

Violin

God forbid we do something productive while on hold. But the classical music is too fast and busy. Some instruments seem much too fast, making me, for one example rather murderous!

At this point, you are probably thinking for me to Shazam, the shit out of it, the on-hold music to tell you what it is? Trust me, I just tried.

And failed….

Making me believe either Shazam only has a library of modern music (that’s an experiment for later) or they really have sped up the classical piece which I want to suggest some classical composer long since buried is rolling in his grave.

Dead composer

Any wonder the first automated voice message one hears when they call is a reminder to treat their staff with courtesy and respect. Am I the only one who does that? Actually, I must be, this is why I don’t go to my local office, I go to an office in another area, because the clientele is very obviously different. Better demographics, better educated, more respectful and I imagine many clients from 13 years ago are still going to the local Stupidlink to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs!

Respect

When I made people do work for the dole back in 2003, I had a lot of unemployed bums, who thought finishing High School was enough to set them up for life and other countless misconceptions and what life owed them.

life owes

Anyway… It’s been an hour and I’m still on hold…

On hold for an hour

Rabbit Hole

Published August 2, 2017 by helentastic67

Rabbit Hole

Follow the white rabbit! A great little reference to which 90’s cult film? Feels like I have several topics I’m waiting to cover all at once, should you be confused, understand everyone will lead me down a rabbit hole for several posts in a row, until each topic is exhausted.

follow_the_white_rabbit

While you may have imagined my blog was all going to be about ABI/Disability it’s also about me too and the reason for that is that someone recently stated this “they say you retain the personality after your ABI/TBI/whatever” that one had before their ABI etc. So, if I’ve ALWAYS HAD MY ABI, what does that say about my personality?

ABI

Have I always had these traits? Did I develop my personality despite my ABI?

The last 40+ years have taken many a twist and turn, so keep that in mind as you keep reading.

Twist and turns

Cheers

But it doesn’t mean I won’t go back and forth over these topics, hang in there, it will all come together…

Hang in there

Hot off the Press – 31st July 2017

Published July 31, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot off the Press 3107a

And another week has passed and I’m wondering what a Normal week should look like? Monday, saw my shrink. I do love the adventure of going to the city, doing a little hunter/gather and ticking a few mental things off my list.

Mondays

Ironically Tuesday crashed and burned, did not have a good day. The flattest, saddest day I’ve had for a while. Just couldn’t do Person, let alone adult or human-being.

Crash and burn

Sick of family not doing what they have committed to, some family not helping at all and other family forgetting I live alone without so much as a cat! They dump their attitude on me! Always makes me think of when some old lady(parent) cries that her beautiful son has died by their own hand and didn’t even have the decency to leave a note to say why? Seriously, going back to bed until I’ve had enough sleep so I can better deal with the day! (as the roadwork continues outside!)

Wednesday, comes together nicely despite no Young John to tease me and scoop me up and make my life easier. I actually scootered a bit on Monday, then got around by tram, train, lots of steps on my pedometer around the city before another tram ride home.

Wednesday

Thursday, roadworks a constant out on my street, I had a much nicer massage at home from my lovely Caroline. I made sure the rest of the day was very low key.

Thursday

Friday, a newish carer took me out shopping, no pet shops this week sadly. Tried to not stress out my new carer I’ve got for the next month of Fridays. She is young and some of her giggly humour reminds me of my younger sister. She has a little fresh wit I like from my carers.

Friday 1

Have been on the serious Provo-trail this last week or so attempting to save some money, or catch up on rent. A friend advised the best way to save money is to not buy food! What the? You heard!
So, I’ve contacted the two major not for profit welfare agencies. Yield? $60 of which I think the checkout chic may have kept $20 of it, as it did not come off my groceries and I still spent some of my rent. All the bills are paid and the healthy pills restocked. So, now to catch up on rent.

Friday night I was out for dinner with my Boo. Wait! I haven’t been hiding anything. My Boo (sweetheart name) is a I lovely gay friend, and I had been unable to convince our friend Damo to come out. We went to a Greek restaurant and while the entree was ok, the main was substituted for a more expensive option. Not going back there.

Really want to go visit George at Helenic Republic and not just because it has my name on it!
My Boo once worked for the likes of Gordon Ramsey but now works in the Disability sector. He politely informed them what we had ordered versus what they gave us. They looked at me as if my ‘Date’ was trying to show off and that I was dating the wrong guy. Nice, right? My gay friends are the straightest looking men you will ever meet and the benefits for me is I know they like spending time with me for my stela personality.

Have ticked off 5 plus comics this last week. I started a sixth but it got dark. Sunset is around 5.30 at the moment and it snuck up on me. Looking forward to the spring blossoms outside my bedroom window just around the corner. Don’t plan on moving until then. Not that I have seriously been looking.

Forwent the single girl date night this week as I was getting into a show I couldn’t stop watching. You probably realise I watch a great deal of TV, it’s my thing. It’s how I switch off my very busy brain. It’s what entertains me and often how I mark time passing. Sounds ridiculous but…… So, I’m always behind. The distraction this week I will describe as this; Netflix, Baz Lehrmann, the Bronx, Late 70’s Disco and the Black Music scene that later became Hip Hop. Think Beastie Boys but black and all the classic 70’s clothes, cars and graffiti. And then you have a show called the Get down. Only 11 episodes, the first 90 minutes long and the rest an hour each. I know some people won’t commit to watching a show unless it’s more than a season however I understand this show was so expensive to make they couldn’t do more than a season. Baz Luhrmann does a great job though you can never say he doesn’t. I think the soundtrack would be a must have. For something very different from Helen’s normal.

Get down

The weekend has ended with a rare but welcome visit from a friend who lives hours away, but when working in this part of Melbourne for a day will come and stay over at the Chateau de Helen. Have I mentioned I’m lucky I have a spare bedroom? Single bed but….better than nothing. Phillip, I’ve known for 20 years from when he and his wife owned a toy shop in my country town that I grew up in, at a time I lived back in that area for two years in the late 90’s. His kids were just little kids then but now are all grown up. Phillip is often my tech-support and while I barely speak Apple he has a PC brain. There is lots of disrespect for Apple and lots of me telling his where to go. But between the two of us, we upgrade and de-bug my laptop! And he’s off to bed hours before me. So, here I am writing this post before I start my wind-down. Supper and a Cuppa T, I think and maybe I might make my curfew of 1am. Closer to 1 than 2 isn’t really getting 1am………but I’m trying.

Computer wiz

My left shoulder is hurting, I’ve obviously done something. I can’t feel a drag of the muscles over my shoulder and down the front of my neck. Think I’ll be asking my Chiro to tape it this week. She prompts how much/where? I will be suggesting she put layers down, pull it up and put it just everywhere, front and back of my left shoulder prompting a laugh from her. “Just put it everywhere!”

Shoulder

To another crazy adventurous week. Trying to get the digits up on the pedometer to make Young John proud.

And hoping I get that final follower to get me to 100, not that I get that much feedback in the form of Likes, I know I have my small number of serious followers who like and comment. To you few, luv your work!
Cheers,
H

Good week

Real

Published July 28, 2017 by helentastic67

Get Real

Real

Let’s talk ‘REAL’ for a moment. Will I ever get the use of my left arm back?

My Radiologist, who did my treatment, told me yes, I would. The Physio specialist upon my returning to him wondered why I was back and asking him to help me get the use of my arm back, he kinda expected me to read between the lines, when he told me he had been doing “this” a long time.

Physio

A few years ago, I saw a younger OT chick who didn’t sugar coat it when she said “Yes!” You will get the use of your arm back, but you will never get the strength and dexterity back you had before.

Ironically, I didn’t have much “before” as it was…

I think realistically, if I do every exercise I’ve ever been told to do every day, several times and the other one’s I’ve been shown to improve, if I do all the computer/gadget based activities, commit to extra tiredness and migraines every day, it will improve some.

Realistic

Someone suggest – why not have my arm amputated? To be clear, I couldn’t be offended. She was a double amputee and she had, had to choose to have both her legs amputated!

Apart from the obvious, that I wouldn’t ever know if I could prove that specialist wrong if I had NO left arm to rehabilitate, I imagine my clothes would not sit properly. I will get even more weird questions and I would instantly go on a diet and lose 5 kilos (I don’t know how many kilos does one of your arms weigh?)

Specialist

It’s the wrong way to lose 5 kilos.

Weight lose

Today’s Lunch – 26th July 2017

Published July 26, 2017 by helentastic67

Todays lunch

Well, its Hump Day again!

Hibernated yesterday and had the kind of day I was threatening murder. Not mine preferably just other people.

Bad mood

So, today’s meal is another Arancini with Bolognaise and a standard side-salad. It’s like a saucy-meaty risotto with crunchy goodness on the outside.

Lunch

And thanks to my cheap-ass coffee rewards card todays coffee was complimentary, with the little chocolate Mignon. So, yum!

Complimentary coffee

Today I’m writing a post so with plenty of time I might have a second medicine. (Latte) Then I can speed through the rest of the day!

Woo Hoo!

Cheers,
H

Hump day

Hot off the Press – 24th July 2017

Published July 24, 2017 by helentastic67

Hot of the Press

Hot off the Press!

Very happy that I’ve followed through on my commitment to provide a current snapshot of Life with Hellonwheels. Going to guesstimate it’s now 2 months.

In recent weeks, I’ve attempted to make a serious commitment to get to bed early. You will already be aware I am NOT a morning person, unless it’s between 12am and 2am! So, attempting to set a realistic achievable goal of 1am, I failed every night the first week, although, if 1.04am, I consider that a win! The last four nights I’ve managed to get into bed before 1am and I can’t wait to get an eye roll from Ms Jillian tomorrow for my monthly head-check. I will get lots of steps on my pedometer to more than make up for it.

Early night

Have had a very busy week and while I usually see my lovely Young John at least three times a week, he’s off to Greece today for at least five weeks with his wife Young Betty.

Greece

As he never charges me, so I have to consider realistically which of my appointments I can live without. I now need to taxi ($$$) to appointments or rug up and walk to the tram and cater to the fact that I will get wet. I can’t use both my walking stick and an umbrella.

We are over the halfway point in winter in Melbourne but this is the wettest part of winter and the start of Spring.

Thinking to do like a bear and hibernate. Plenty of TV to watch, currently watching some Hawaii 5 Oh! To trick myself into thinking it’s not so cold. It’s not working.

Hibirnation

Oh, the start of the week saw my mum here for about 24 hours. This week both my parents celebrated their birthdays. 68 and 69, I think. Young compared to many of my friend’s parents.

Happy birthday

Visited the pet shop again to check on Ralph’s fate. He had been adopted the day before and another cat had also come and found a new home. Another to arrive that day and still no new fur-child for me. Sad face. But the trip to the pet shop revealed there will be a Cat Lounge opening in August in a neighbouring suburb. FYI: Lounge presumably is a fancy name for a cafe, in a suburb I wouldn’t consider fancy. But until I move and/or get my new fur-child I foresee myself being a regular visitor.

Fur baby

The drama of finding carers has continued. Last Monday I went to the top and sent a polite but brief text to the CEO (what? He told me I could call him!) and within an hour I received an email of my roster. So, definitely doing that again.

Still adding to the mental list of how many carers have seen me naked. The least favourite thing about having and needing carers to do the most simple and mundane of tasks. I’ve decided to cancel four of my FP (food preparation) shifts this week. I need a break from the rostering nightmare and staff changes. If I have to micromanage someone I might as well do it myself. If it’s something I can’t do one-handed it can wait.

Naked

Still no new shoes to speak of. Starting to get murderous thoughts at the powers that be ‘getting in my way’.

The NDIS is supposed to be life changing. Then why do I have blisters on my toes? Less travel assistance and I am forced to trim my own fingernails on my left hand until I butcher them as I don’t know how short I cut them until they hurt! My chiropractor put my rib back in and it was bruised for days yet, that was something my CM decided warranted an incident report to assist me getting my monthly chiropractor bill covered. Here’s hoping.

NDIS

Lastly, my anniversary White Tail Spider bite flare up has returned. So, it’s as itchy as hell and the skin peeling is about to start again.

White Tail spider

Oh, I got through three comics this week and also filed away the ones I’ve read this year. Going to need a new achieve box soon. I’ll try to read a few more comics before I make my next pilgrimage to the comic shop. I do this every three months.

Comics

To a less chaotic week ahead!
Cheers,
H

Have a great week

Review

Published July 21, 2017 by helentastic67

Review time

Review

Because I don’t have enough on my plate! Remember all those things I was advocating? Well, shit just got more real!

Who wants the purest definition of a Permanent Disability? Well, Centrelink, the Government agency that pays my Disability Support Pension. They want to review my pension.

Centrelink

This also requires me to attend a JCA appointment. Sorry another acronym. The worlds in full of them. Job Capacity Assessment.

Firstly, they head up a staircase, I stay at the bottom and say to her (It’s generally a her) I don’t do stairs. She comes back down and we both go up in the lift. It’s like the first test to see if I’m really disabled. One point, Helen, JCA staff – zero.

Stairs

Hopefully they will assess my specialist reports and meet me so I can explain what it’s like just to sit in their office and they will be happy. Permanent is permanent.

Well, as reported recently that Stupidlink did decide I was still eligible for my DSP, it’s just that it took them 18 months to work this out? Maybe not quite that long but it felt that long.

As I like to explain Brain Injury. You can’t unscramble an egg!!!

Unscramble eggs