Multiple Sclerosis and Me: 5 Things I've learned about MS - Part VIII

5)

 

4) The Americans with Disabilities Act is younger than I am. 

3) MS doesn't only effect movement.

2) Even with seven TYSABRI infusions under my belt, Multiple Sclerosis can seem feel like you're fighting an epic battle.

1) People with disabilities endure the same oppression, harassment, discrimination, injustice, abuse, bigotry, prejudice, and inequality that's awaited every minority a century before us. Society seems to suffers from severe short term memory problems, and the term "protected party" exists less as a definition and more as an annoyed eye roll wondering why we can't remember the Civil Rights Movement, Hitler and his Jewish pals, or Women's Suffrage. 

I argue that like something shiny we get distracted by whatever language is used in the discrimination du jour, in this case disability and the atrocious language I endured from of all people my parents. But look past the words, however vile, and focus on obtaining justice for the actions. And as it turned out, you don't really wanna fuck with me. Only nigga that I trust is me. Fuck around and make me bust this heat  That's the devil, they always wanna dance.

Multiple

The face of Multiple Sclerosis has changed so dramatically in the past 20 years it's virtually had unrecognisable facelift. 

2 years ago I experienced a MS flare up so intense regular morphine injections were needed to keep me from losing consciousness, I now consider myself a morphine sommelier, try the 2007 its delicious  When I emerged I could barely walk even with a walker and the idea of ever running again seemed as unlikely as flying.

I expected myself to rage at the unfairness of the disease, life, and every imagined missed opportunity that was now lost behind this confusing, limiting disease. Eventually I reached out the enormity of MS resources and forced myself to acknowledge the fact that 20 years ago, my medical options would have fit in a thimble. I had tremendous success with TYSABRI, the very first medication I tried and experienced exactly zero side effects. I've heard the stories of people diagnosed at 16 or those who needed 4 or 5 medications before anything made some sort of difference and realized I'd dodged crippling side effects, outrageous medication costs, comparatively and it made me feel like the luckiest person on earth. 

I have my 7th infusion this month before I return to DC. I have a handful of goals set out for myself but my true mission is that if I can make one difference, any difference, for MS advocacy, then whatever pity, regret or remorse I might've harbored would be worth the price of admission. I've seen a lot of men and women with MS who are truly strong as fuck, so much stronger than me and I'm so proud to be on their team.

How I assume (know) I walk now

Labor Yay!

My Labor Day Weekend Plans:

1. Organize closet

2. Clean apartment

3. Catch up on laundry

4. Read Cloud Atlas

5. Eat a full jar of Nutella

Meg Ryan is a LIAR

Romantic comedies have told us a lot of lies over the years. They would have us believe that the following gestures are the height of romance:

Emotional reunion in the rain;
Extended dance sequence;
Feeding one another (let the record show the only time it's ever appropriate to feed a significant other is after one of you has been hit by a bus);
Bathing one another (see above). But the number one, single most over-rated romantic activity of all time:

The Lazy Sunday in bed.

Oh sure, on paper it sounds delightful—a full day devoted entirely to gentle napping with that special someone. But the stark reality is a different story. My most recent "Lazy Sunday" had all the relaxing zen of an internment camp. Ladies, don't be fooled, the moment you set foot in his apartment you're not a guest, you're a POW.

9:00am: The morning's off to a good start with some, er, adult cuddling. But it's a clever tactic to leave defenses lowered. Suddenly I'm ensnared in a snuggle/sleeper hold. There's no countermaneuver. As I lapse into unconsciousness I think, "Must... escape... the dry cleaners... closes at noon..."

3:00pm: W-Where am I? Hungry and disorientated I awaken behind enemy lines. With the fate of my "To-Do" list hanging in the balance, I negotiate for my release. But is that, is that reruns of The Wire I hear?

4:00pm: Morale has stabilized. I was able to convince my captor to allow me food rations so we ordered Chinese. I requested extra hot mustard sauce...but I didn't get any. War is hell.

10:00pm: Stockholm syndrome sets in and the mission fails. There's still a chance I could get to the grocery store today... but first let's watch just one more rerun of Mad Men.

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part IX

5) A man walks into a into a Mobius Strip club. The bouncer says "We have a minimum $100 Klein Bottle service." 

4) Jacob's Ladder is a symbolic link between heaven and earth. While a magic staircase between worldly and heavenly realms is the sort of spiritual fairy dust you'd expect from the New Testament, its origin is a dream from the Book of Genesis.
3) Multiverse, also called parallel or alternate universes, are hypothetical dimensions that exist simultaneously. The concept makes excellent media, literature, and philosophical fodder however numerous noteworthy physicists didn't board that particular quantum physics party bus, most notably Albert Einstein who famously quoted "God does not play dice.."

2) LifeBuzz writes a faith restoring article 29 Signs You're Doing Better Than You Think. Have you made the best of a tough situation? Or overcome the judgment of others? Campaigned for social or political causes? Then Rock Star, it turns out you're actually killing it.
1) The dog days of summer always makes me reminisce about the time I played 7 Minutes in Heaven with Flea, Clarence Thomas, and Meryl Streep.

Multiple Sclerosis and Me: 5 Things I've learned about MS - Part VII

5) If you're taking TYSABRI to treat your RRMS you'll be impressed with the results (despite the risk of PML) but had better brush up on your anagrams ASAFP.
4) Stephen Hawkings has fascinating theory surrounding how and why MS can cause your sex life to disappear into a black hole. Groundbreaking work Stephen, but after last Friday night it's hard not to take that personally.

3) Word play is a literary technique in which the words used are primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. In bed.
2) My older brother worked for a certain pharmaceutical company who subsequently merged with and finally was bought out by Biogen. After the pharma company merger, my brother found himself in charge of quality control of their top selling MS drug, TYSABRI.  

1) If MS has taught me one thing which, God help me, might be the case it's that you don't need to wear my chains to help me carry them. 

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part VIII

5) This isn't my coin collection...I'm uh holding it for a friend. 
4) Last night I held Aladdin's lamp / And so I wished that I could stay.

3) Find yourself reminiscing about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and pondering which of the Shredder fighting foursome was the most Cowabunga? To the relief of ninjas everywhere Cracked examined this very issue and determined Ralphel, while only a mediocre painter, is the most radical of all the turtles.

2) A bartender says, “We don’t serve time travelers in here.” A time traveler walks into a bar.
1) 

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part VII

5) You either unican or you unican't.

4) Born December 15,1687, Sir Isaac Newton allegedly discovered the theory of gravity when he saw an apple fall from a tree. This story hasn't been verified (and is also super lame, really never seen anything fall before?) Them apples aside, Newton is regarded as one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. Regrettably, the discovery of gravity now prevents us from being being able to fly. Expect me of course.
3) Most muppets are left handed.

2) Ever wonder which letters made it onto those eye charts optometrists use? Called LogMAR charts and created by NatSeriousional Vision Research Institute of Australia in 1976 eye scientist picked particular letters designed to enable a more accurate estimate of visual acuity. While these nerds earned scientific and medical recognition for putting random letters onto pieces of paper, I received my English Major.

1) The Medal of Honor is the highest most prestigious military decoration awarded to the United States Armed Forces. This honor, which is personally presented by the President, requires recipients meet the following criteria: 

distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty:

• While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; 
• While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or 
• While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party

Multiple Sclerosis and Me: Part VI Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.~C.S. Lewis

5) Multiple sclerosis has never gotten anyone laid. Like ever. Not even Mr. Sclerosis or Dr. Sclerosis.

 

4) My dog thinks about squirrels mostly, so I'm glad Snoopy is pulling his weight.

3)

2)

1) 

MDs say it's MS, 

'Plains the pain and confusion,

And that call with Forest Whitaker was just a delusion

(he still called back)

Saturday nights are now at a local infusion center

(Stabby Ralph's still there but he's doing much better)

Now's the time for practical meds, hobbies, and hair,

Ralph we're cancelling our El Salvador time share,

Following my first 

TYSABRI® infusion

MS changes life, won't know how, won't know when,
So if you're dealt this hand, ante-up, raise, 

 and all in

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part VII - Color Edition

5) What happens when you throw a white hat into the Black Sea? Well first the shop owner threatens litigation even though it was clearly a display model and your publicist assured you that he'd spoken with the shop owner and he was on board with this stunt and you were willing to do nudity despite their insistence otherwise-oh yeah, it gets wet. 
4) Blue comes out as the clear color favorite among the old, young, men, women, across nations, by a substantial margin. While blue does possess a pleasing hue and is associated with heartwarming characteristics such as trust, honesty and loyalty, there's no clear link between the shade and its staggering popularity.

3) Greenbacks owe their name to their introduction in 1929 when the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing opted to use green ink both because the color was high in its resistance to chemical and physical changes and also the ready availability of the green pigment at the time.

2) Aurora Borealis or "Northern Lights" are a natural color and light display that occurs in high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions.

1) Why is the blue jay always so sad? His family died.

Multiple Sclerosis and Me: 5 Things I've learned about MS - Part V

5)

4)

3) La-da-da-da-dahh. It's the motherfuckin D-E-single-B (@SPIC-UZZZA!)

2)

1)

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part VI

5) UNC trumped Gonzaga to become the 2017 NCAA Tournament Champions. It was their whopping 47th tournament appearance while my own Alma mater UCONN makes only a bashful 33.  But we'll always have this 2004 college blackout when UCONN decimates Duke in the Final Four.

4) A 2011 article by CNN explains why some people actually hate their birthdays.

3) Do it again. Cause if you don't...

2) Human saliva has a boiling point three times that of regular water. Now my tea will never be ready...

1) A stands for Apple. A always stands for apple, there's nothing we can do about that,

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part V

5) I'm in the market for a mentor like Jack Donaghy.

4) I've been practicing the Thriller dance since 1982 just in case Michael Jackson comes back as that zombie. Safety-first.

3) Werewolf bar mitzvah, Spooky scary Boys becoming men...men becoming wolves.....

2) Soundsnap can satisfy with your audio needs with a large bank of sounds like laser bursts and an impressive collection of fart sounds organized by depth, breath, and length.
1) The man asked a question...
 Reschedule my

Everything I Know Is Ridiculous - Part IV

5) A Newton's cradle, named after Sir Isaac Newton, is a device that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy using a series of swinging spheres. When one sphere (ball) at the end is lifted and released, it strikes the stationary spheres (balls); a force is transmitted through the stationary spheres and pushes the last sphere upward. Basically, a lot of ball play.

4) Marie Curie is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different sciences, Physics in 1903 and Chemistry in 1911.

3) W-wait marijuana helps MS? Time to update my treatment plans.

2) Here comes the hotstepper.

1) I've lived in DC for just under a decade and seen it through two marathons, five law firms, an undetermined number of men, bipolar and MS, think I need a new town. To leave this all behind.

Worst Day Ever

January is a rough time of year. With its yuletide debt, post holiday weight gain, and temperatures as comforting as a Scottish dungeon, people find January so bleak that the last Monday of the month has been dubbed Blue Monday. This year's Blue Monday promises to be the quite literally the worst day ever: January 16, 2017.

If you're anxious to shake yourself out of this wintery slump, studies have shown that consciously practicing gratitude has a substantial impact on your mood, outlook, and overall happiness. Tallying the things that you're grateful for, no matter how big or small, can substantially raise your spirits during the bleakest of winters.

The hectic pace of D.C. can make it easy to overlook those tiny nuggets of happiness and good fortune in our lives, so in the spirit of appreciation, I took stock of 5 things that I'm grateful for:

5) Living in DC without getting robbed (that sort of street crime only happens in Old Town Alexandria);

4) Unlimited champagne when you get your nails done at Mimosa;

3) The Unicorn Commute: when the train arrives just as you get to the platform, no delays, and you get a seat with a fresh copy of the The Express under your seat,. Yahtzee;

2) 15 years of running;

1) Maintaining gainful employment despite choosing English as my college major (with a minor in useless literature). Suckers...