Heads or Tails

Heads - I get a new FT Job in TN that I interviewed for today and they already made an offer to me - then I countered offered at the end of the day for more $$$.

Tails - I do not get the new FT Job in TN and go back to PA sooner than later and begin my job search there.

By this time tomorrow I should know the answer to the above Quarter Flip/Flop. I'm letting it up to chance. I don't feel strongly about it one way or another. Whatever is meant to be will be.

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On a side note, after being on Copaxone almost 6 months now, I REALLY feel like it's working. Even hubby noticed the past 2-3 weeks my endurance and energy levels have improved greatly. I pray that my body will continue to respond so well and I can work Full time without any issues no matter where it is at in the future.

What a Month!

God must be preparing for a big shindig in Heaven...Look at all the talent he's requested lately:

Gary Papa - a local sports journalist that has been around in Philly for as long as I can recall.
Michael Jackson - Talent out the Wazzoo back in the day and then well I think he just lost his mind.
Billy Mays - He is the reason I've ever heard of OXYCLEAN!
Farrah Fawcett - I loved her on Charlies Angels and I keep watching the reruns.
David Carradine - Kung Fu Movie Master
Fred Travelana - Actor
Ed McMahon - The Tonight Show and many other things

June seems to have been an active month for "celebrity" deaths - in fact Wikipedia even follows it. View a long list here of many great people who've contributed to our world and society.

Gimmie an "E"

For Exhaustion!

Last week I was on cloud 9. This week I am still floating among the clouds, but, now I am on cloud 7. I was so gung ho last week on getting a new job and a new life, that I pretty much ran myself into the ground. By Thursday I was toast after 4 days of non-stop stuff. I pushed myself to go out with the girls Thursday night for dinner. Friday though I just vegged all day and then Sat pushed again and then Sunday vegged again. The ongoing heat and humidity in the south is not helping, alas, I shall push on and hope for better days.

With the Deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson this week it reminds me (someone who can get caught up in the past) just how much I miss the 70's and 80's. Being young, no cares, no worries etc. I miss the past. I know we have to live in the hear and now, but, the hear and now is very stressful and well exhausting. There's that word again..Exhausting! Upon my exhaustion, I tend to reflect, miss the past, question the future etc. I apparently also have dreams of Shapeshifters - very vivid dreams that I will post about later.

And speaking of Exhausting, for the first time ever tonight Hubs and I watched a marathon of Jon and Kate plus 8 and man alive I don't know how those two keep going. I would have had a breakdown a long time ago. She is one strong lady.

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you will land among the stars!

I used to be a Glass Half Empty sort of person. Pessimist. However, since adjusting my pain meds last week something *clicked* and now I am a Glass Half Full person. I've learned how to control my pain for the past week to a point where I am rarely in pain during the day even though it is in the mid-90's and humid. This does lead me to wonder if it's the change in temps and barometric pressure rather than the heat and humidity that bother me. However, for the next 7 days it will be in the mid 90's and humid and I have to say, I am okay with it. I don't love it, but, I no longer hate it more than the average person who dislikes being hot.

As I've had this change in attitude, I've realized all the things I was missing out on in life by not seeing things through rose colored glasses. Yeah, I have MS. But, I also have the ability to have a full and complete life. MS should just be an annoyance. Not something to live my life around. So, I have been job hunting since the end of last week and with my new "Can Do" attitude, I plan to land a job this week. I've already received 1 call back.




" In The Middle Of Difficulty Lies Opportunity." ~ Albert Einstein





Before MS, I was a vibrant professional doing well in her career and had almost everything I could ever want. I can be that person again. I will be. I want those days back of no worrying about money and debt. No reasons that I had to stay home all day. I want it so bad I will make it happen again, even if I have the annoyance of MS and have to push through the pain it brings me.

Life changes are coming and I'm excited. I'm willing to work for what I want, my future, our future. I will become an active MSer. I will prevail! So can you! We all can. It is easy to forget that sometimes, but, even with MS we can all succeed and live our life's dreams!

I am excited about all the possible new opportunities, teachings and life experiences that lie out there for me.




" Adopt the Pace of Nature: Her Secret is Patience." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Please Advise on Leg Pain Meds

Ah...the heat and humidity are up for summer and I already am having much leg trouble. PAIN from really tight calf and thigh muscles. Spasms galore and intense fatigue. And did I mention the PAIN!

Can those with MS who have leg issues themselves please review my meds below and tell me if they are on as many drugs for just their legs? Seems like alot to control Pain, spasms and fatigue.

Soma - 350mg at Bedtime
Baclofen - 20mg daytime and 20 nighttime
Requip - .5mg every 8 hours as needed
Gabapentin - 300mg daytime and 600 nighttime (this does not work for my leg pain though, so what's the point?)
Copaxone

I am taking all these meds and still in so much pain. It just seems like many of these meds do the same thing, so why do I need them all??? I realize you are not doctors, but, I would appreciate if you would share your med/leg pain experiences and what has or has not worked. My limbs thank you!

The BEST Cooling Device Ever!

I loved summer before I was diagnosed with MS. I don't "Hate" it now, but, I don't enjoy it nearly as much since my body no longer deals well with the heat.

Like many of you, I suffer from problems of my Core Body Temp rising and not being able to handle the heat. Too much heat exhausts me. I don't want to spend my entire summer in my home, so instead, I have researched and found a cooling device that works really well for me! Because lets face it even air conditioning doesn't always cool us enough.

It is a Neck Cooling Device from Aqualitywater.com. It's called the ArctiCollar Personal Cooling System. You can view it HERE. The website informs you about the cooling technology and how it works.

I purchased the light blue one -Stats as I've found them:

• It is surprisingly comfortable. This Neck Cooling System looks like you are wearing a whiplash collar for lack of a better comparison. So I personally don't mind wearing it in public if needed, you can just tell someone you have whiplash. LOL

• If you FREEZE the Cooling Pack and wear it non-stop it can last up to 2.5-3 hours, depending on your surrounding temperature. If you refrigerate it, it lasts about 1-1.5 hours. I purchased the set with 2 cooling packs so when one pack is warm I can get the spare out of the freezer and put the old one back in the freezer. If I wanted, I could have constant cooling 24/7.

• Also, another benefit is being able to keep it on ICE in a cooler, I keep a small cooler in my car so if I want to go somewhere and not wear it, I can put it on in my car right after I am in done with my errands in public.

• This is my first FULL week using it daily as it has been in the high 80's here and super humid. I was glad to have it with me on my Florida Trip!

My Personal Usage and What It has done for me:

• Wearing the ArctiCollar has allowed me to be able to work around the house, take the dogs for a walk and do some chores without getting overheated and exhausted. As long as I had the collar on, I felt cool and good. I will say fatigue hit me like a brick in the afternoon after I have removed the collar, not sure if it was related.

• The Collar feels comfortable upon your bare skin and there is only a pleasantly cool feeling. No burning or stinging of your skin after removing the Collar directly from the freezer.

• I have been able to sit outside on my porch with my dogs reading in the heat of the day and feeling warm, but, not hot. I even considered taking it to the pool, though, that would be one BIG tan line! I just prefer to swim in the water instead to keep cool. And I know that when I leave the pool I have a nice cold cooling device waiting for me if needed.
  

While there are many cooling options out there for us, this is the one I preferred to try before getting a big vest and for me it works well. I highly recommend it.

I wanted to post about this, as Joan's topic for the Chat this week is regarding Personal Cooling Devices and I am not sure if I will be able to attend the Chat or not. If anyone has any other great cooling device experiences please do tell me in the comments. I'd be interested if they could make a cooling device inside of a scarf that you could wear around your neck, in your hair or something like that.


In the meantime, break out your Blender and keep cool by having Strawberry Daiquiri's like in the picture above. Keeps you cool and it's yummy!

The Golden Heart Award

The Golden Heart Award

Herrad presented me with this award today. Thank you Herrad.

Do go visit Herrad's Blog HERE and leave comments for her. I welcome all my fellow terrific MS Bloggers to help yourself to the above award as you all deserve it. Our MS Blogging community is a great way to receive and give support and share MS Information. I am thankful you are all out there!