Garlic Thanksgiving

What a beautiful Thanks giving weekend! The weather sunny and mild, perfect for walking AND no need for cooler packs !!  I managed to climb the 165 stairs from the harbour trail to the street. OK I needed lots of breaks, but I did it.

My turkey and pumpkin pie turned out great if I am allowed to compliment myself. The only downer was yesterday with  me dropping the remaining pie and breaking my good ceramic baking dish. I drop things all the time and with ceramic tile floors that means lots of broken dishes. I don't know if that's an MS thing. I do know that my hands aren't as strong as they use to be.

I did as Mr. Carrot asked; planted some garlic bulbs.  Looking  forward to my crop next summer, even if I'm not looking forward to the hot humid weather.  Yes this summer was a challenge. I would never have survived without air conditioning, which worries me. What happens when I can no longer afford the electric bill that is going up more and more?

My last  bill for August and September was a real whopper. We have a new billing system called "Peak Saver" where they give you a chart showing "peak"" mid peak" and "off peak" hours.  "Peak" costs twice as much as "off peak". That's fine if you want to save money running certain appliances, like using the dishwasher after 9:00 p.m. The air conditioner usually runs during peak time and less during off peak.  That means big bucks to stay cool. In future it may be necessary to lobby for a discount to those of us who really need air conditioning to survive?

Now some of you might say that cool air is a luxury, not a necessity, but I'm telling you that the heat  was a killer for me this summer.  The only way I could go out for a walk was if I my clothes were stuffed with cold packs.  Even then there were some days when I just couldn't do it. Forget about going out mid day; impossible, unless you want an ambulance picking me up. Yeah that's how bad it is.

OK so now winter is coming and I will have the heating bill to complain about. Are there any places in the world with moderate temperatures?

So Much Art

Here's a few shots from the James Street Mega Art Crawl and Nuit Blanche in Toronto. I needed a few days to recover after each event (more on the return of super fatigue later). Soul food does me good and what better soul food than art? Huge murals and fire were the themes that stood out most. There was a multi media event at Toronto city hall featuring Neil Young and many other musicians  in  "Later That Night  At the Drive In" The crowds were so massive though, I couldn't get any photos. Good to know an old guy like him can still rock and sound fresh.

Everybody wants to be Michaelangelo!!

A cut out!!

Another Mr. Carrot!!

A Vocal Minority?

Here's another article about the  angioplasty backlash
Ahh! poor doctors. Their patients are angry and vocal about not receiving treatment.  An angry minority.

I don't think we are a minority, but yes we are angry. Angry because all those years you claim to have dedicated to finding a cure have resulted in NOTHING!!!!

Nothing except more drugs!! Youv'e never had to justify your research; wether it is leading to anything promising. You've never been scrutinized and attacked the way Dr. Zamboni has been. Never had to prove that any of the drugs you prescribe actually work.
 
 We, the MS community, are too quick to embrace this new therapy? Well dear doctors you were too quick to dismiss it. You blame the media for causing this controversy? Well you didn't waste any time grabbing national headlines calling CCSVI a hoax, only to back track a week later because you might be able to score some research dollars.  Ha! you tell MS patients about the dangers of angioplasty? Oh we might get a blood clot? You aren't vascular surgeons, you are nuerologists. Stick to what you know, which when it comes to MS doesn't seem to be a whole heck of a lot.

Yeah some patients are afraid to speak out because their doctors will dump them if they dare even ask about CCSVI. 

Please answer this question dear doctors and then maybe I will shut up about angioplasty Tell me  what have I got to lose having this treatment? AND then tell me what you have to offer that is better.

The Latest MS News

Here's an article about the rally on Parlaiment Hill yesterday  I wanted to attend this rally but  I wasn't up for a five hour drive to Ottawa.  Gee what do you know? The health minister had a previous engagement. She should be sacked for her whishy washy  bungling of this issue. 

Here's an editorial from the National Post about allowing MS patients the right to have angioplasy. What really annoys me about this editorial is even though it's calling on the governemnt to do the right thing, the writer is ignorant  of the facts. First of all, we  know that angioplasy isn't a cure for MS, secondly, this research and procedure are only controversial because the  medical community contines to make  bold claims it  doesn't work, and  thirdly why the heck should I have to pay for this procedure when we have universal healthcare, which I pay plenty for.  At least the editorial supports allowing  patients to go ahead  if they are willing to pay, which I am. I just don't want to go to a foreign country to have it done.

Consider this:  If people are allowed to pay to get boob implants and are covered to get an elastic band wrapped around their stomach to lose weight; why can't I be alowed to have a simple operation to improve my health ?  Did they have clinical trials for breast implants?  

 The MS   community is not a bunch of dim witted incompetents. We are well informed, have an excellent newtwork, and we care about each other! Stop treating us like dummies!!


Lastly I need to come up with an idea to raise money for the class action suit. It's going to be rough what with all the fake charities being uncovered lately. Anybody have ideas?

You Have NO Choice

I am having second thought of getting my flu shot Tuesday, September 14. My initial reaction was NOT to take it once I was told that all influenza shots have H1N1 in it. I took the shot because I know Multiple Sclerosis weakens the immune system, making it so much easier for me to end up with "the flu". Multiple Sclerosis can actually set our bodies up to make getting "the flu" a much more dangerous situation.

I am having second thoughts about taking that flu shot with H1N1 in it because I have been experiencing the following flu symptoms: cough, headache, sore throat, runny nose, aching muscles, aching joints, weakness, and fatigue. In the beginning, I thought I was having an MS exacerbation because of the intensity of aching muscles, joints, weakness, and fatigue symptoms I live with everyday, but managed when those symptoms stay at a level 6...unfortunately they are at a 10, thankfully have medications to relieve the pain. I knew more was going on once my nose start running, my throat-became sore, and I started coughing. It clicked to me that I am trying to come down with the flu. I guess I can look on the bright side of things; I do not have a fever. If the symptoms that are not the same as my MS symptoms stay mild, I am hopeful I will bounce back soon.

The Season of Fairs and Festivals

You know Fall has arrived  when all the fairs and festivals come along one after another.
I'm a little late posting these photos of last weeks Locke Street Fesitval, which is right around the corner from my house.  Mr.Carrot, wants us  to plant garlic bulbs this Fall. He says 90% of garlic is now imported from China. It's an example of how we are losing control of our food supply . So go ahead and plant a garlic bulb. Mr. Carrot says even one that originated in China is OK. If you want more info checkout www.Hamilton350.com/events

Who's Misinformed?

Federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq,  accuses the  media of spreading misinformation on MS research funding!! Read it here

Maybe if the Federal and Provincial  governments, the MS societies, and  the healthcare community, would make up their minds,  quit back pedalling,  and being so damed wishy washy, there would be less confusion.

Don't blame the media for the mess you have created  by raising people's hopes only to have them dashed time and again.  Hmmm, I wonder if all those petitions and a possible class action suit  have you in a tizzy, so now it's time to play the blame game.

MS patients aren't going away. We've got nothing to lose and we aren't going to give up on a procedure that might buy us more time to live a decent productive life.

And I ain't spending my money  going to a foreign country for something I pay for right here in my own country. It's called universal healthcare  stupid !!! Do you even know what that means?