Support!

Not tech.

I just had a support group meeting for MS, and it was a pleasant and informational exchange of life and therapies. I may have gone off on a tangent about my alternative therapies, and maybe that’s because I’m open to things, and maybe because I’m older and potentially wiser?

Get off that high horse!

Yup, keep myself humble, right? Either way, support groups! They’re helpful, and should no way be seen as a weakness. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, sharing your struggles, and seeing how the other people deal with your similar struggles.

Sounds lame.

Shush old me. You know nothing! But then again, maybe you’ve done things your own way for so long you forget that there is lots of help out there! You know, in hindsight, I’ve ignored past problems until they were immediate urgencies or unavoidable. Probably not the best strategy in life.

So what do I do?

Pfft, I sure don’t have that answer, but talking to likeminded people is a good start, right? This may be a bad example because I am talking to myself, now… But as I get older, I am taking care of myself more and more, and I am not ignoring my body as I once did. I can only hope that sharing will help someone else from ignoring things!

I’m sold! Sign me up!

Shut up me, you’re already doing it! And that has been talking to myself. Weee! Bye for now.

Fuzzy & Messy

I was never really one for complex hair routines in my youth. Shave face occasionally, clipper to the head when getting a haircut.

But wait, din’t you have crazy hair that one time?

OK, so yes, I did weird things with hair/facial hair now and again, but mostly it was the typical “try a style” when shaving, and then just leave it instead of shaving the rest off! For hair, #2 on sides and finger length on top. The most care I would put into is some good ol’ dippity-do!

Now, much later in life, I care?

Oh the things I could ramble to a therapist about! Self-image, self-worth, self-love, etc? Who knows. Still haven’t levelled up to any therapy… Well, group therapy, yes, but nobody there is a therapist to my knowledge.

Co-commiserators perhaps?

Anyway, today I write about a “treat yourself” moment discussing combs and beard care with my barber, and I was lead away from a stainless steel comb I had been using.

Enter the Viking!

I found this Canadian beard company through Amazon. I am a critical shopper when browsing online, and especially Amazon. Seemed legit, bought it, and not sad!

I bought the beard brush and comb set. It made me feel fancy just with it’s packaging! I still store the brush in the magnetic closing box! The thing feels soft, and it certainly feels great after rubbing in some oil. Now the comb I’m sure is nice as well. It’s very soft and solid. doesn’t tug at hair as much as the metal comb did.

The site claims in their marketing that brushing helps spread the oil, so with my wonky hands, an easily handled beard brush is a nice finisher in the self-care routine. So I’m learning by marketing. I sure hope it’s not subtle shame marketing!

Alright, I ramble and it’s getting late.

Long and short of it, shop wise, shop local and Canadian (or whatever your nationality), and…

Say it ain’t so…

Somebody’s hiding.. . wait, stop singing along!

Oh yeah, alright, feels good, inside. Gotta love A/C.

Right, so I will stop being distracted by the music and just get back to the task at hand..

I left the house on the weekend. I almost feel like I’m some kind of agoraphobic! Now lets look at the definition…

agoraphobic | aɡ(ə)rəˈfəʊbɪk | adjective having an extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving one’s own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult: lately I’ve become completely agoraphobic | a seemingly agoraphobic young woman.  noun a person with an extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving their own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult: an agoraphobic who has not been out of her house for many months.

Ok, so no extreme or irrational fear of open or crowded spaces. Sure, maybe the sun is out to get my pale, pasty skin… And I do hate large crowds, because pandemic times, so not irrational.

I’m not agoraphobic! Yay!

Now that being said I do stay at home 99% of the time.

Why?

Why not! And I guess I should elaborate. I have MS and Crohn’s. The combo of these two things make emergency need to use the washroom quite impractical! I like to know where I’m going and what’s accessible. This may be a leftover of some childhood trauma, or maybe it was boy scouts teaching me to be prepared. (Get the minds out of the gutters, I came from a small town and most of my boy scout leaders were family.)

Be prepared!

Words to live by. Planning is key. Where have I heard this before? Oh snap…

Scaredy Squirrel Makes A Friend

So reading to my child is also life lessons for me!? Who knew. Let’s go read about something else…

The Gruffalo

Ahh now we’re talking!

I decided a few years ago to do voices when reading stories and I gotta say, the voices in my mind where pretty spot on to the voices used in the animated story version of this. Hauntingly accurate even. I even had thoughts of an alternative career in voice acting for a small moment.

Fun story, but what’s the moral in this one?

Lying gets you out of trouble? I don’t know about this… But forget that, it’s a fun book!

Long twisted tangent short, I’m not agoraphobic, books are fun.

Unbelievable

As a live and breath. I know I never have I ever’d a few posts again, but never have I ever been so happy with a hockey game outcome by the Leafs! It wasn’t a final of any kind except for the Leafs. They were facing elimination, and somehow pulled a win out of their butts with a 3 goal deficit and 4 minutes to go in the game.

I was streaming the game over the radio because I don’t have it on TV, and I had all but written off the game when I got ready for bed and typed off a quick blog post. Well I did not get to sleep until 12:10-ish because that was intense.

I had to watch the game recap on the NHL app just to make sure it wasn’t some wonky sleep dream.

It really happened!

I woke up this morning with vigour that I haven’t had all week! My MS body didn’t care too much that I had a hot morning shower. This better not wear off before I get my outing done this morning.

Haircut day!

Going to visit my barber and give him a few words about what he did to my wife’s head! Sarcasm of course, love the guy, and I love my wife’s hair. Still sad he can’t work on my beard, and I can’t bring him a coffee. These service industry pandemic restrictions are the worst!

But, necessary!

Well, rare morning post during 8 AM medicine, but I’m not supposed to be at work today, so enjoy the weekend!

I don’t know what to write…

Tonight, I managed to survive a night of solo parenting. Shouldn’t need a parade for that. But I do feel like I managed to accomplish more than I do most Friday nights, so I will take that win.

Speaking of wins…

I had basically written off the Leafs season, but the game is going in to overtime! Now I can’t sleep because OT.

Going to finish the game. Goodnight!

I like it hot?

Spicy chicken sandwiches will almost always be my go to choice at fast food or take-out restaurants. Wendy’s spicy chicken especially. I know I wouldn’t call it “spicy” but it sure has enough flavour to be tasty!

I ate one today.

When I can’t think of what to make for a meal, or the day has just felt blah and I need something I’ll know I’ll eat, spicy chicken!

I have not always like spicy.

You’d never guess it, but growing up I disliked hot sauces because they were, in my opinion, putting a lot of the burn or kick with a lot of vinegar. I didn’t really like the taste or smell of vinegar, and it still saddens me, but I know it serves a purpose. There are flavour notes to hit with the ingredients but overdoing vinegar isn’t my jam.

It’s in the batter!?

Now, give me a spicy crunch mouth feel and I’m a happy camper. After that, finding creamy hot sauces, and spicy sauces, the game was on! I have expanded my go to hot sauces and use them frequently. Still not putting them on eggs (well, maybe a time or two) but I like a blandish brown breakfast.

What’s your first favourite hot sauce?

Whatever it is, I hope it’s not Franks! I’d have to say Sriracha is mine. But wait, this is getting off track! Wendy’s makes a fine spicy chicken sandwich and I have been buying them since the 90’s when we used to hang out at the wendy’s/tim horton’s in town. If you know, you know!

Not my favourite.

It isn’t my favourite sandwich but currently it’s geographically the closest!

Oh, and I did mention it was a bleh day right? I guess I had more fall out of my brain than I thought I could whip up tonight. I go now, going to lie down. Go Leafs!S

Just done did it?

Zoomer zoomy zoom? Slip ‘n’ zip?

Once upon a time I joined a peer support group for MS and a post crossed my news feed inquiring if anyone had any opinions on Nike FlyEase. I had been browsing for accessible clothing options and I was immediately intrigued by these unintentionally accessible shoes.

I had a hard time justifying a shoe purchase as I had other expenses in life. I also had orthotics installed in a busted old pair of Nike Monarchs. As I drifted away from use of the orthotics and alternative mobility aides, I felt like it might be time to invest in some easy to use sneakers.

I would browse the Nike website off and on for a year before I decided to “Just Do It” as the slogan entices. I purchased them quite recently in an end of season sale. I then sat and waited on their delivery.

It was a long wait due to the logistic hurdles of pandemic-land out there. I would check the tracking information multiple times a day. I was both elated, and saddened by the update that showed it was in Canada, but then it sat. It sat nearly a week before it began its final journey to my mailbox.

The day it arrived I couldn’t wait to rip open that box for that noxious, yet oddly comforting, new shoe smell!

Now for the true test, did I order the correct size?

Yes, but…

If I want to wear socks or include a different insole, I noticed it was slightly tight. (Next pair are definitely going to be a size up.) With my feet socked, I squeezed into the shoes and managed to zip them up.

There’s no sucking a gut in for wide feet!

Now not to be sad, I have worn these shoes on every excursion out of the house since their induction to my wardrobe. I usually replace the stock insole, and go without socks. This configuration works well and I have no difficulty zipping them up.

Yup, if you haven’t inspected what FlyEase means yet, there’s a tab that connects to a zipper that goes around the heel side of the shoe. The tab has velcro so it sticks to the shoe and hides all the business of fastening the shoe with no dangling bits. There are also two little elastic strands that I believe are there for avoiding twisting the pull tab, but I have not researched the reason for their existence.

Anyway, Nike has accessible, wide shoes, and I will 100% buy again!

That space in my mind

I was recently asked for my opinion on a vape brand, so let’s talk about what I use.

*** Of course this is for medicinal purposes, and I in no way want you to rush out and start smoking cannabis. I partake to provide relief for my varied MS & Crohn’s disease issues.

Now, the company in question was Arizer, and as an owner of one (my second one of them actually) my input was request.

I currently use the Arizer Solo II and I can’t be happier. It has a nice digital display temperature settings screen, a ceramic heating bowl, with an all glass vapour path. Can’t ask for a cleaner experience. A huge step up from the original Solo, which served me well for 5+ years.

I remember being introduced to a thing called Massdrop way back then. I got in on a drop for the original Solo, all the while worried I had wasted my hard earned money. I didn’t know how long it would take or if I would get scammed. I also didn’t have friends in my town that had one to test or ask questions on. Still new to the vape game, and having only dipped my toes in with a magic flight launch box, I was excited to try something a little more complete and easier to use.

Arizer delivered on these expectations.

Since then, I have gotten slightly more involved in online stuff for more info, lurking around Reddit, reading many reviews, and having fanciful dreams of all the vapes I’d like to buy and try. When the time came around when my Solo died, I knew right away that a transition to the Solo II would be best for me. I had extra stems and being able to continue using them was a plus of course, but I would not hinge a recommendation on the product simply by available accessories.

Now I wasn’t immediately purchasing the Solo II, there were some other compelling offerings. I think it was a toss up between the Solo and the ArGo. The deciding factor? Form factor. The round, familiar shape was likely going to make me happiest so a shopping I went.

Inside the box was a fabric-like carrying case, two stems and a little metal tool for digging out spent bowls or something. There’s other little extras, but honestly, you get into a routine and you use what you like.

All in all, a great vape, and I hope to have another great 5+ years of use. 10/10 Would buy again.

Oh, and they’re a Canadian company! So that’s almost shopping local!

Wait, what did that say?

No mask, the virus is a lie, John 3:16… in spray paint? Next level covidiot…

Today, we hit up one of, if not the, best breakfast spots in Dartmouth. Yum. Bet you didn’t think that was going to be my next thought!

Chicken and waffles

So we woke up and decided that today’s the day we make it out for breakfast! Armed with a fistful of masks, we set off. I’m the slow one with my menu order today. Kid knows he wants beans and toast. Wife can only eat a few things so the choice is limited. I ponder over the menu… traditional, waffle, French toast, crêpes… I just don’t know.

Right, so off the bat I need to consider my health, and my appetite. I’m feeling hungry but I know that’s a lie. I can’t remember the last time I cleared my plate in one sitting at a restaurant! Today, the neurogenic bowel and Crohn’s disease will be my hurdles.

Chicken and waffles ticked most of the boxes I imagined my body wants. I opted out of a side order of meat, and was eternally grateful that I wasn’t up sold on anything because I’m probably an easy sale when asked if I want a side of bacon!

Of course I opted for real maple syrup to avoid unnecessary refined sugars.

I boxed up my meal, and we manage to make it out of the restaurant. I silently judge a mask less covidiot and then nearly collapse with laughter when I see his chariot! A beat up old black pickup truck with the most idiotic tailgate painted slogans. Behind the claims of false virus hoax, and the fact he was refusing to mask up… he painted a John 3:16 as some punctuation.

Now I’m not knocking his religious beliefs, but if we just take a moment and ponder the nonsense.

Jesus died so he could go to heaven, and the virus is a hoax.

With two potential local cases in public spaces, I feel like he should go lick some playground equipment across town! Well, maybe not. He was in my neighbourhood so I wouldn’t want him bringing that over here!

Ridiculousness of it all was a good reminder to stay safe out there. Remember, mask up, quarantine, so billy joe numbnuts can cling to his beliefs that this is all a hoax. We’ll do the Jesus thing and keep you safe.

Wear a damn mask.

Done

I’m done and so is breakfast.

I didn’t want to like them.

But I do.

I’m still not 100% on the science of it all, butt these here Voxx socks work for me. I’ve noticed that they appear structured somehow, and I hope that doesn’t go out with one wash. I will heed these laundering instructions to the letter! Or at least my wife will, because the washing machine is downstairs!

Now, how do they work?

Again, don’t know the science but I have noticed it’s a bit tighter around the tops of my feet, right above the ankles.

Reflexology foot chart

If we look at this diagram, I’d say it applies gentle pressure along the groin lymph, when looking at the medial, dorsal, and lateral views. This in turn has been helping my gait by helping me lift my toes while walking. I will say that I have noticed some leg pain at the top of my calf, but I assume that’s just the muscle complaining because it was brought out of retirement to work once more. Cue a little Riggs and Murtaugh.

My calves, complaining!

All in all, I like expensive socks. Stasis Athletics Large mini crew, and Voxx Tread Large are winning in my books. Maybe bookmark this if you need a Christmas or birthday gift idea for me!

Or you know, some proven cure to regenerate myelin.

Socks good. I’m out. #notasponsor