I could say I've been too busy to write lately, but that would be a big, fat lie. Mostly, I've been just too blah. I've been lazying around like a slug, thinking a lot, accomplishing little: sad some days, happy on others; planning for a future that may or may not happen, worrying about a future that almost certainly will.
So I am hereby officially kicking myself in the butt and launching a new take-good-care-of-myself regimen (part of which will certainly include lazying around, but in a more positive vein). And taking care of myself involves using, as Mr. Natural once said, the right tool for the job. Here's part of my list of new tools -- feel free to steal ideas:
1. Get a voice-recognition software program. One reason (excuse?) why I've not been blogging recently is that it's just so darned hard to type. So I've been checking out websites for Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Windows Speech Recognition. Dragon appears to be winning. I'll keep you posted.
2. Update my bathroom. I'm still independent, able to shower and take care of myself pretty well, but some tasks are becoming more difficult. New tools to the rescue!
Most of my ALS symptoms are centered in my hands, arms and shoulders, and it has become very difficult to wash my back, even with a brush. So here's my new trick: two stick-on hooks, one pointing up and one down, with a loofah or net back scrubber stretched in between at back height -- Rub back and forth like an ol' bear against a tree. (Does a bear loofah in the woods...?)
Since getting dry is as important a part of showering as getting clean, I'll invest in some microfiber towels. They are super-absorbent and super-fast, and new styles no longer look like car-drying cloths!
3. Find the sock-putter-onner. Socks are the most demanding part of getting dressed (besides bras, but that's another, non-bloggable story), and I know my husband's sock tool, remnant of an old back surgery, is out in the garage somewhere. "Somewhere" being the operative word.
4. Use foam build-ups for my silverware. I've been reluctant to add those dorky-looking foam tubes to my utensils, but I now realize that nothing would look much dorkier than the way I'm eating now. Soon: bendable spoon and fork.
5. Buy paint brushes with fatter handles. Painting has been such good therapy for me, besides being fun. Since my right hand is pretty well out of commission, I am painting left-handed --very clumsy. Big handles mean better grip, means more control, means (maybe?) better paintings.
6. Buy an electric lift recliner, perfect for the above-mentioned lazying around. Oh, I can still get up out of my chair now, but it's a real challenge, what with my fubar-ed hand and arm, to move the recliner lever. Besides, my current chair is showing signs (and making sounds) of wearing out, so let's plan for the future, replacement-wise.
7. Buy sensible shoes. Oh, this breaks my heart! I love my girlie-shoes: high heels, pointy toes, ankle-wrap sandals, ballet flats.... But I'm starting to get wobbly, so it's time for Clark's or Aetrex or Softwalk. Harrumph.
