A Migraine and The Gnome and Mrs. Meyers

Hi All!

Yesterday was fun - sort of. I started the day with my morning walk and chat with Mom. Then I headed out into the day. Everything went really well until I was in my car on the way to the grocery store. That is when it struck. A headache.

Luckily, I had aspirin and water in the car so I took full advantage of both. Then I soldiered on into the store. Somehow, the bright store didn't soothe my headache but rather amplified it . . . into a migraine.

I completed my shopping and headed home. Once there I dragged everything into the house and put away the things that needed refrigeration. The rest was left on the counter while I heated up some lunch (thinking that my headache was due to a lack of food).

The food was eaten and the headache actually ratcheted itself up at least two notches. Due to that, I headed to bed. Three and a half hours later I was awakened by Hubby sitting on the edge of the bed. I hadn't even heard him come into the house!

The headache was still there so I got up and took some Excedrin and then burrowed under the covers again.

Another three hours later I emerged with only the dull remains of a headache. Hubby and I enjoyed a nice dinner (with Hubby's homemade spaghetti sauce) and some conversation before it was time to head back to bed for the night.

This morning I woke up with the hangover feeling from the meds but no headache! My morning walk was refreshing (if a little brisk at 41 degrees!) and it was a good time for me to dive into a new podcast.

The podcast is called The Gnome and Mrs. Meyers by Susan Klein. The book is read by the author and is interesting. The basic premise is that a recently widowed woman is surprised by the appearance of a House Gnome in her living room. A real, live gnome! The gnome asks to stay at her house for three months after which the woman will get a wealth of gems in payment. Since the widow, Mrs. Brenda Meyers, needs money after her husband's long illness she agrees to the three month stay. That is when her adventure begins.

Despite the rather lack-luster reading voice of the author, the story has me hooked with its whimsy and unusual plot. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Trisha

Voice Update: Still hanging in there. Hopefully today will be better (without headache and with time for exercises!).

Oh! My Aching Neck!

Hi All!

This morning I woke up with a sore throat. Actually it was a doubly sore throat - inside and out!

Yesterday I went to see Susan, my speech therapist. While I really enjoy seeing Susan I must admit that when I am not as diligent as I should be with my exercises I find myself in a bit of pain! This is because my neck gets "crunchy" or tight and Susan has to work hard to get things loosened up again. The hard work leaves impressions (literally and figuratively) on my neck. For the next two to three days my neck will hurt where Susan was doing her work.

Yes, my voice feels better but . . . my neck hurts! It makes doing my massage difficult because . . . well, my neck hurts just where I need to massage! However, I do work through the pain to do my massage.

This morning, I woke up expecting my neck to hurt but I wasn't really expecting my throat to hurt as well. It felt as if the left side of my throat was on fire. After thinking a bit I decided that this was likely due to drainage. My nose was a little blocked when I went to bed.

For breakfast I had two glasses of orange juice and two oranges. This seemed to cut through the drainage and solved one of my two pains. The pain in my neck . . . it will be hanging around for another day or so to remind me what happens when I don't do my exercises and massage faithfully!

Today was day four of my walking routine and I even added on an extra ten minute loop to the end of my walk for good measure!

While I am writing this morning I am listening to an episode of Gunsmoke (radio version) from May 9, 1953. This is thanks to my podcast obsession. I found a great source for these Radio Westerns called Old Time Radio Westerns. This podcast provides episodes of Gunsmoke, The Cisco Kid, Tales of the Texas Rangers, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Have Gun Will Travel, and Challenge of the Yukon. These are fun to listen to and always have an interesting story.

I never thought that I was a fan of westerns but this podcast changed my mind and these episodes are some of my favorite things to listen to while walking each morning.

There is another podcast called Old Time Radio Thrillers which has shows like Dick Tracy, The Whistler, The Avenger, Inner Sanctum Mysteries, and The Shadow. Again - super listening while I walk.

If you like listening to stories I suggest you try out these two podcasts. They are well worth it!

Trisha

Voice Update: I pretty much said it all above but - my voice is doing really well now that my throat is loosened up and I plan on keeping it that way!

Look Who Says "Good Morning!"

Hi All!

This lovely spider was kind enough to greet me during my morning walk this morning. Luckily, he/she didn't jump out at me but hung peacefully on his/her web and just waved a couple yellow and brown striped legs in my direction.

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Maybe it is because Halloween is coming up shortly but, for some reason, I have been fascinated with spiders and spider webs lately.

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It began with the spider web in my front yard. Sadly, the Terminex guy "took care of" that web. The spider tried to build again but the recent rain frustrated its efforts.

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Then - I saw a huge web this morning with this friendly little spider sitting in the middle of it. I had to stop and look. Amazing - isn't it?

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Of course, it is amazing in the wild. In its web. Not in my house. Or, heaven forbid - in my bed!

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Anyway - I walked again today despite my knees telling me that they would rather stay snug in bed. It isn't actually my knees - it is the muscles directly above my knees but not my thigh muscles. They protested pretty much the entire time. Oh well!

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After walking I trooped upstairs and did day two of my weight routine. Oh yeah! My muscles will love me tonight!

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It is good for me, right?

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Do you remember a while back when I told you about the podcast book I was listening to? The first book was Shadowmagic. Then I started listening to the sequel, The Prince of Hazel and Oak. Both books are very good and I highly recommend them to you for your listening pleasure. Or, if you prefer, you can get the first book in print. Just google it and find the author's page or find the book on Amazon.

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Recently I started listening to another podcast book called The Spiral Tattoo by Michael J. Parry. This book is about a pair of law enforcement officers, a fairy and a troll. Different, yes, but so far, very interesting. I am hooked.

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If you are interested in looking at these books or other books you can get as podcasts (for free!!) you can check out a website called Podiobooks. It has podcast books of all genres.

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Okay, end of commercial! I just really have enjoyed these podcast books and think that you would too!

fjsfj

Trisha

Voice Update: Still on track. Last night I didn't quite get in my entire hour of oral reading because I wanted to get my papers typed up for class but, I did at least a half hour! I know, I know. Not good enough. However, it is a start, don't you think?

A Prince, A Hitchhiker, and A Class

Hi All!

First of all - let me say that I got a little confused about the title of my podcast book I am listening to. I said it was The Prince of Oak and Hazel when it is really The Prince of HAZEL and Oak. I got the order wrong but, the review was right. It is a good book. If you get a chance - listen to it!

Now - I am happy to report that I got back into my walking/swimming routine today. Last week I put it off during my cranky spell because . . . well, I was just too darn cranky!

The water was moderately refreshing today - a little surprising after the heat of the past weeks here. I don't think that I did my normal amount of laps but I certainly did laps and then got a chance to relax as well. Swimming is a good thing.

My mom keeps telling me that the pool will be closed for the season soon and while it is hard to imagine when the temperatures are still in the 100s - I suppose I should check and see when the pool is closed for the season. I hope it isn't too soon so that I can get more swimming in!

As far as actual book reading (instead of podcast listening) I am re-reading the entire series in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (or is it Universe? I can never remember). Hubby's nephew is getting married and he and his bride like the book - they are getting married on 10-10-10 which translates into the number which the book reveals to be the meaning of life - so I have decided to make a "weird" wedding present with components which refer to the book. To do that, I must read the book again since it has been a while since I originally read it.

As my vision for the present becomes clearer, I will share it with you. Currently, all I know is that his and her towels are involved in some way!

Looking ahead - this week promised to be interesting. My one and only class starts tomorrow. Then I have a speech appointment on Wednesday (supposedly - it has been rescheduled three times so we will see!). After that . . . who knows! I am sure that I will have work to do for class and all kinds of stuff popping up now that school has started again.

Fun, fun!

Have a super week!

Trisha

Voice Update: Well, I have been a bad speech patient since my cranky spell hit. I haven't gotten back into the swing but . . I will, I WILL!

My Digital Picture Frame

Hi All!

No - I didn't post yesterday because . . . well, I sat down to get my swimsuit turned right side out (I had recently washed it) and . . . I fell asleep. I woke up about an hour or so later with the swimsuit still in my hand! I guess I needed some sleep!

Anyway - when I woke up I called Mom and chatted for a while but never really felt like I was "awake" all day. I read some more of my good book and watched another "chick flick" I recorded from the Hallmark channel.

Then I listened to some more of the podcast book Shadowmagic by John Lenahan. Remember, I told you a bit about it a while ago when I first started listening to the book.

The book is about a young man (who is still in high school so maybe 17 or so??) and his father (who only has one hand) getting ready for the day when two strangers on horseback appear at their door. Two strangers dressed in medieval looking clothes. Two strangers who try to kill the young man, Connor.

However, instead of killing Connor, the strangers capture Connor and his dad and take them to a mysterious world full of magic, imps, elves, banshees and more. A world where trees "talk" and must be asked for their wood and fruit. A world where it seems like everyone wants to kill Connor.

Luckily, Connor's mother - a sorceress of shadowmagic - shows up and saves Connor and his father from certain death. Then . . . Connor finds himself on his own after his father is injured by his aunt (who was trying to kill Connor NOT his father). On his own, Connor finds a couple of odd friends - one is a banshee and one is an imp prince. They have adventures while trying to reunited Connor with his mother - in the hopes of sending Connor back to the "real world" where no one is trying to kill him!

The last part of the story that I heard had Connor and his friends facing an imminent attack from an entire clan (troupe, tribe, group?) of Banshees.

I can hardly wait to see how they get themselves out of THIS mess.

As a side note, the podcast book is accompanied by Irish music from a band called Lunasa. I have been spending some time looking into their music this morning and . . . they are a good Irish band. So - if you are into Irish music, check them out!

My walk/swim was nice this morning - except for the humidity! True, it was 81 when I woke up and hotter by the time I got home but . . . it was the humidity that really made things difficult. It was like getting slapped in the face when I walked outside!

The water this morning was warm. Not too warm to swim in but, it certainly did make catching my breath tough at times. Unfortunately, it was too warm outside for the water to make the ambient air feel cooler when I got out so . . . hot, hot, hot!

Hopefully, today I will make my way to a local mall to check out American Sign Language dictionaries at the book store, to eat lunch at the food court, and to just wander around for a bit! Doesn't that sound like fun?

I am ending the post with a picture. I recently got my digital picture frame up and running again. I put on a bunch of miscellaneous pictures and have the frame set to run automatically during the evenings.

It is fun to sit and watch the pictures change. Every once in a while a picture comes up and it is just so pretty. Like it should be framed and hung on the wall all the time.

This is one of them.

Have a super day!

dfh

Trisha

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Voice Update: Doing well despite my rather lax exercising lately (due to headaches) and my cancelled speech appointment. I am still reading out loud (still from my book by Diana Gabaldon) as much as possible.

Anticipation . . .

Hi All!

Well, the car isn't here yet . . . so I am still waiting! I don't do too well with waiting so . . . I am pretty antsy!

While I am waiting I will share a couple more Ohio pictures.



First, Hubby, Mom and I on a bench in Coventry, Ohio after eating at Hubby's favorite Chinese restaurant - Hunan Coventry. We try to make a trip to this wonderful place each time we make it back to Ohio.

The neighborhood around the restaurant is an eclectic mix of little shops which are fun to browse in. We stopped at the cat shop - which also has things for dogs - and found new Mylar tassels for Skor's favorite cat toy. We have been looking for these things everywhere with no luck!

I don't know if you can tell but the bench has a big hand making the peace sign - which is why I am making the peace sign.

Isn't this a pretty little red bug? My Aunt Donna (who you can barely see through the windshield) got this car to be her "Summer car." She let me take it for a drive and it was fun zooming around in a little convertible. Unfortunately, it is too hot for convertibles here or I might have considered getting one!

In other news . . .

My swim this morning was wonderful. It was about 75 when I woke up and there was a nice breeze for most of the time I was walking. The water at the pool was nice and cool so it felt good to be doing laps (24). The sky is very overcast which helped keep the sun out of my eyes while I was doing the back strokes!

Yesterday my friend Donna met me for lunch. We went to a new pizza place in town and had a very nice time eating good pizza (even though it was thin crust and I prefer thicker crust) and visiting. She came back to the house and we spent more time talking about all kinds of stuff while the cats tried to decide if they should come out of hiding or not.

Both cats hid when Donna came into the house. Skor high-tailed it into the bedroom and Miss Cleo hid behind the couch. Eventually Skor decided to come out and he sat on the back of the couch behind my head. Miss Cleo hid the entire time.

Then, after Donna left and I finished checking on the kitties next door, my Mary Kay lady stopped by with my latest order. This time the kitties didn't hide and they actually both came within arms length of her to sniff her.

Weird cats!

I got a free CD from the Radio Bible Class (which publishes Our Daily Bread - a devotional booklet I use). Every few months I get an insert in my booklet advertising a free CD. At first I couldn't believe that they were really free but . . . they are. They are pretty nice quality too! My mother also get the devotional booklet from RBC but she NEVER gets the free CD offers. Mom and I keep trying to figure out why.

Yesterday Donna said that I was probably in the system under a different customer profile than my Mother. From something I do (buy on iTunes maybe??), the computer has highlighted me as a person who might buy music from RBC (there are many more CDs available for sale by the company but I never buy them - I just get the free ones) so they send me free CDs to "whet my appetite."

Mom must be under a different profile so she doesn't get the offers. She would LOVE to get them but then again - she ends up getting the CDs because I share them with her anyway!

I hope you are having a wonderful week! It is almost Friday!

Trisha

Voice Update: My voice is still doing really, really well. Yesterday Donna - who has been friends with me before I got SD so she has been with me through this entire process - and I were talking about my SD and how the people at the Colorado meeting didn't believe that I actually had SD and how that made me feel. We also talked about the whole SD support group thing. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who can still hear the traces of SD in my voice and still knows that I do indeed have SD even though I sound really good. She also knows how hard I worked to get my voice to this place and how hard I continue to work. Because of how long we talked and how long I talked to the Mary Kay lady - I didn't end up reading last night but . . . I still got my voice exercise in!

Tuesday

Hi All!

Well, I survived my first day of work and classes. A couple (literally two) people I was close to in ASL 3 are in my ASL 4 class so I am happy! I do have to say that this class looks like a lot of work and I am just a tiny bit apprehensive about missing a week of classes to go to Ohio to visit my relatives but . . . I am sure I will survive!

Miss Cleo now is stitch free and Skor has started on yet another antibiotic regime even though Hubby couldn't get any meds down him yesterday morning and had to wait until I came home to complete that task. We still aren't sure what was going on with Miss Cleo's tumor - the pathology came back "undetermined." Don't you love that? The vet said that if it grew back we may be looking at something cancerous (heaven forbid!) so I guess we just get to wait and see what happens!

Have I ever mentioned that on Tuesdays iTunes puts out a new single of the week which can be downloaded free? It is fun - all different genres, some good and some just so-so, but something different each week! I look forward to Tuesdays and a new song! Either it is my addiction to iTunes, my love of music, or my love of free stuff!

Speaking of iTunes, there are a couple of podcasts that I have been listening to lately which I thought I would mention briefly.

Lately I have been searching for a better way to meditate on the Bible and to deal with devotions. I have been getting The Daily Bread for many years and really like their daily devotions but . . . I just don't seem to make the time each day to read them. So . . . I checked out podcasts - after all, there are podcasts and pretty much everything these days.

I found three podcasts (well, I found a LOT but narrowed down my focus to three!) which I want to let you know about.

First, is PodBible - Bible in a Year. This is "normal" people from New Zealand reading from the Bible. Once you get used to the accent (which is neat!), it is a good way to listen to the Bible. Once in a while a reader gets tongue tied and that is a bit distracting but on the whole - this podcast is a super way to get closer to the Bible and to "read" it in a year.

Next is EarlyLight Daily Devotional. This is a short podcast which starts with a theme each day such as discouragement, jealousy, success, etc. Then the speaker ties the theme in with a Bible passage and a short message. I have found these to be very though provoking and enjoyable. The speaker is very professional and the topics are well planned and relevant to daily life. This is the podcast I start my day with each morning.

Finally, there is Today in the Word Daily Devotional. This is produced by the Moody Institute (I think that is right). This podcast begins with a Bible reading and then a devotional relating to the reading. While I think the podcast is well done and the devotionals are thought provoking, there are times when I think the connection between the passage, the devotional, and daily life is just a bit tenuous. I regularly listen but it isn't my first choice.

If you are interested in daily devotionals or daily Bible readings but have never found the time - check out these podcasts. You can listen on the go or while exercising - which is my preference - and get your day started on the right foot.

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing well even though I did WAY too much talking on the phone yesterday. In fact, I did so much phone work that Jean, on the therapists actually stopped in the office and told me that I HAD to take a break to help my voice! I am hoping to get a massage today. We will see.

Sunday Short

Hi All!

I just finished my brunch for the day after sleeping in - amazing! Hubby got up with the kitties at about 6:30 and me . . . I just kept on snoozing! It felt wonderful! Now I am up and ready to go. I have already thrown a load of laundry into the washer and folded some clothes I had hanging. It is about time for the clothes to go into the drier and the last load to go into the washer - how fun is that?

Today I plan to continue my wonderful Spring Break by doing things I want to do instead of things I HAVE to do. Yesterday Hubby and I did some shopping so I now have fiberfill to stuff my Homely Homies and some new glass beads to be made into bookmarks - craft world, here I come! Also on the agenda today is to FINALLY get my next podcast recorded and posted. I have been putting it off and putting it off . . . today is THE day to quit procrastinating and to get it done!

My Jewish Pirate book is still calling my name so after I finish some sewing and some podcasting, I may just snuggle up in my reading chair and learn some more about those feisty Jews.

Doesn't that sound like the perfect day?

Trisha

Voice Update: Still doing really well. I need to get a bit more aggressive with my massage to keep the crunchies at bay but other than that . . . I am good!

Podcast Anyone?

Hi All!

Previously, I have posted about my love affair with my iPod Classic. My music all in one, very portable place is fabulous and I am enthralled by the shuffle feature which lets me enjoy different kinds of music back-to-back. True, I also had some "issues" with my iPod that I had to work out with the "geniuses" at the Apple store but, I still like the device a lot.

Also, you may know that I produce a podcast of my own about Spasmodic Dysphonia. A podcast is rather like a radio show which you can download to your computer to listen to whenever you would like. Regular people can create podcasts and post them to the internet for free (like me - I am cheap!) or businesses, universities, etc. can produce podcasts for their customers. Schools utilize podcasts to help students study and to keep parents up to date with school activities. The uses for podcasts are literally endless.

However, while I have mentioned podcasts in passing, I have never really told you my all time favorites which I listen to regularly. So this post is all about the podcasts to which I listen.

Agatha Presents Mystery: This podcast originally caught my notice because it plays the Agatha Christie Radio Mysteries Series which I enjoy. The podcast also plays other radio mystery shows and they are good for those long journeys!

APM: Performance Today - Piano Puzzler: As a lover of classical music and a lover for puzzles, this podcast is perfect! Composer Bruce Adolph creates hybrid compositions which combine the style of a well known composer with a popular tune. A caller tries to identify both the composer and the tune. A fun listen which works your brain!

B&N Tagged! Published by the mega book store, Barnes & Nobles, this video podcast reviews newly published books. Each podcast has a theme and normally a guest author to talk about his/her book. If you enjoy reading this podcast can suggest some interesting new reads.

Best Of You Tube: Also a video podcast, this production is NOT associated with You Tube and it shows selected videos from You Tube. Always good for a chuckle or some awe!

Dancing With Elephants: A podcast created by a family living in the Chicago area, this podcast is entertaining. The entire family participates in the creating of the podcast including the two young children who, by the way, are very intelligent. A super listen to people who have children to find out how one family deals with the daily/weekly issues that happen in families with children.

Decoder Ring Theatre: This podcast recreated old-time radio shows with great success. The dramas have modern twists and are an enchanting way to pass the time.

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing: Almost everyone I know who listens to podcasts has this one in their playlist. Grammar Girl talks about grammar topics suggested by her listeners and guides confused writers down the correct grammar path.

NPR: From The Top Podcast: This podcast is created from a popular radio program which showcases amazing young musicians. The musicians are all under the age of 18 and are from all over the country. Another terrific listen for classical music fans. These kids are amazing!

NPR: Wait Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! Podcast: A "game" show heard weekly on NPR which deals with current events. There are three guest panelists who make comedic answers and try to convince call in contestants that their wacky story is correct. Just a lot of fun.

Podictionary - for Word Lovers - Dictionary, Etymology, Trivia, & History: A short and sweet podcast exploring some unusual and some familiar words. Good for the word geek.

The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd: Another modern twist of the classic radio dramas, this one features scientists who travel through time to historical times. The "bad guys" try to steal historical artifacts to sell on E-bay in the current time while the "good guys" foil their plans. Fun and with lots of features for children.

Short Cummings Audio: One of my favorites - short, pithy narratives on a wide variety of topics by Ken Cummings. Entertaining in a nice, short package for those times when you want something good to listen to but don't have a lot of time.

Stuff You Missed In History Class: Produced by the makers of the website How Stuff Works, this is a wonderfully informative podcast features a different topic each episode and is filled with intriguing facts and trivia.

Storynory - Stories for Kids: While I am definitely not a kid, I like listening to stories so this podcast is a hit with me. All kinds of fun stories.

Tapestry of the Times: A podcast of a radio program featuring historical recordings from the Smithsonian Folkways recordings. Full of interesting music and back stories. A very wide variety of music that isn't normally played on the radio!

YarnCraft: If you are a knitter or crocheter this is a good podcast for you. It is published by Lion Brand yarn and covers all kinds of topics of interest to people who yarn craft.

Most of these podcasts have websites you can find using google and you can listen to the podcasts on your computer without needing an MP3 device. Of course, if you have an MP3 player - you can download them and have these shows "to-go!"

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing well. The Insecurity Thugs are making me not really feel like talking but the crunchiness is waning and my voice is strong. Yeah!

Insecurity Thugs on The Loose!

Hi All!

Okay - I have lost three games of Bejeweled and so I guess I should stop procrastinating and blog. Why am I procrastinating, you may ask? Well, to tell you the truth, I have hit a patch in my life where I feel control slowly slipping through my fingers.

This happens to me from time to time. The normalcy flees and leaves confusion and chaos in its wake. All of the things that I thought I had under control . . . not so much anymore! My emotions edge closer to the surface and I am likely to snap at people or to cry if you look at me sideways.

Does that ever happen to you?

The whole world is against me! Well, that is how I feel. The reality of the situation is MUCH different. You see, when I get into one of these "patches," my sense of reality is overtaken by thugs from the last outpost of insecurity in my personality. Suddenly these thugs wallop my confidence and have me second guessing everything I say and/or do. The normal confidence I have in my abilities is missing in action - I always picture confidence bound and gagged and shoved in a janitor's closet somewhere in an out of the way place in my brain.

If (and when) I take a step back, breathe deeply, and analyze the situation with clear eyes, I find that the thugs are just trying to scare me and that things are not as bad as they first seem.

For example, the things which have me "in a tizzy" at the moment? First of all, classes. To be honest, I am ahead in my classwork and am doing well. No cause for panic. Second, Destination Imagination. I have a ton of work to do for the tournament on March 7th. It seems like I will never get done. The truth of the matter is that I have done this so often that it doesn't take as long as I think it will. I have things down to a routine AND this year I actually have someone to help me! While I do have a lot to do, I know that I can handle it. (I hope!) Third, SD Support Group meeting this Saturday. Why would I worry about this? It is a chance for people to gather and discuss things that relate to SD. I am good at that! Besides, in this too I have someone to help me out! Finally, my podcast! I really, really, really, want to post a podcast in February since I haven't posted one since sometime in January. I have been so busy (sometimes busy procrastinating!) that I haven't had time to sit and get my act together to make a new podcast. Well, I have an idea now and can just do the recording. Simple.

See- nothing too terrible in that batch. A lot to do, yes but, nothing I can't handle.

Now if only I would remember to step back and breathe more often!

Trisha

Voice Update: Still a bit crunchy but getting better. I have started getting some nasty drainage in the evenings here which, as you may guess, doesn't help my voice too much. *sigh* It is always something! I am still doing well with the exercises and massage!

The Purse (and other stuff, too!)

Hi All!

I just want to say that the purse pictures are FINALLY here! Sorry about the wait. Apparently, the rechargeable batteries I have been using are bad OR the charger is bad OR something! I just couldn't get the darn rechargeables to work so I had to scrounge some "regular" batteries for the camera!

Anyway - here is the purse from the top - I am happy that it zips!

The blue thing you see in the left hand side is my handy-dandy watch. Since I can't wear watches, I keep one on my purse so I know what time it is. Of course, I haven't reset it since the time change . . .

Here is the purse from the back - it has a back pocket - perfect for stuffing receipts and stuff into while on the run (so to speak, I don't plan on running from the law any time soon!).

Here is the purse from the front. The clasp just closed yet another outside pocket. Notice the little feet on the bottom. I like those- they let me think they will help keep the purse bottom a bit cleaner. I know, I know. Just let me keep my illusions for a while longer!

The purse came with a little scarf tied on the handles - I guess that is the style - but, I took it off because it just wasn't MY style! Speaking of handles - these are super. I can put them over my shoulder or on my arm and they work perfectly.

Enough purse drooling!

I have something that I need to apologize for - I am a bad comment returner. Several times people have asked me things in comments and . . . I have totally ignored them! I am SOOOO SORRY! I don't mean to ignore you - I just seem to have a problem with responding to comments.

There was one woman who asked if she could use my podcasts on her website and I never responded. I spent over 30 minutes this morning looking for her comment and it seems to be lost in the blogosphere! I really did want to respond to that woman and to check out her site but . . . .

If you happen to be that woman and you are reading my blog, PLEASE leave me another comment. I promise to respond this time!

Speaking of podcasts - I have posted my 23rd podcast. It has been a long time since my last podcast because I have been struggling with my "two worlds" and trying to decide if I should continue podcasting or not. Thanks to Renee's helpful and positive comments at the SD symposium this weekend, I decided to keep going. That meant that I had to find a new host (podcastspot is closing down!). I am now at Podbean.com (http://l2lwithsd.podbean.com/) and am trying to get all of my old podcasts moved to the new place. New stuff to learn - fun fun!

Yesterday I also signed up for a website with doteasy.com for my sd support group. I haven't gotten my log-on info yet (they have to make sure they can get the money first) but I am looking forward to "playing" with that as well.

I was a very busy girl yesterday!

Oh - Skor update: he is at the vet's again. This time it is for his neuter surgery. I am sure he will LOVE me when he gets back home!

Trisha

Voice Update: My voice is doing well. I am doing some massage and a little inhalation voicing just for old-times sake!

Podcast Episode #22 - Here's The Rub

Hi All!

I just finished posting my 22nd podcast online. This one is the long awaited podcast describing my laryngeal massage that I do as part of my exercises. They are hard to explain but I do my best in the podcast! To listen to the podcast, click on the link at the top of my blog page or click here: Learning To Live With SD

I hope that these diagrams help explain where you should start your massage. It was hard to find good pictures to help.

This picture shows the hyoid bone where you should start your massage. From there you move down to the notches below the hyoid bone. In this picture they are right under the line of the blue arrow.Okay - this guy is right under the hyoid bone and is working to massage the larynx into its normal position. Personally, I use two hands (the index finger of both hands). I guess my hands are not quite big enough to only use one hand comfortably!Another picture of one handed massage to lower the larynx. I don't actually put any downward pressure on my larynx myself. I leave that to my speech therapist who really knows what she is doing. I just do the same spots and do the quick side to side movements and quick circular movements to keep the muscles loose.

Remember, massage doesn't CURE SD - it is only a tool to help loosen and relax the muscles around the larynx to make it more comfortable to speak. I HIGHLY recommend that anyone who is interested in laryngeal massage should go to see a speech therapist who has been trained in Dr. Arnold Aronson's technique.

If you have questions, let me know and I will see if I can answer them for you!

Trisha

Two New Podcasts!

Hi All!

I just finished posting TWO new podcasts today. Yes, you read that correctly, TWO! The first podcast - episode #20 is about the amplified telephone which is invaluable to me as I go through my ABSD dance. I include information about how to obtain the telephone (applicable in Texas only, sorry!) as well as ideas about how to start the ball rolling to find such a phone if you live in other states. I hope to come back to this blog and show a picture of the phone in all its glory later today (after dinner!).

Oh - Mom, this podcast is a long one! Sorry about that but there was just a lot of information to share. I think it is around ten minutes. You may want to start downloading before you walk and it might be ready when you get home!

Here is a rather poorly lit photo of my wonderful phone. It looks a bit dowdy but, I don't really care! It helps me get heard!

This is a close up of the amplification button. You can also adjust the volume of the outgoing voice. Since this is a phone will all kinds of wonders, I can also amplify the incoming sounds (good for talking to other SDers) and, if I wanted, I could install a battery so the bottom part would blink wildly when the phone rings. I guess I am ready for when I start losing my hearing too!

This is also a good picture of the HUGE buttons on this phone. It makes me feel like I am about three years old and playing with the "grown up phone." I guess when my eyesight goes that will be a good thing, right?

The second podcast is a short one - only about three minutes - and it is all about getting the word out about the video about SD from the Denver television station.

If you listen, I hope you enjoy!

Trisha

New Podcast

Hi All!

In honor of Dystonia Awareness Week, I have published a new podcast about the topic. Give it a listen by clicking on the link at the top of my blog page or go to Learning To Live With SD.

Let me know if you do anything to help spread the word!

Trisha

Voice Update:
A friend from Ohio called and I talked to her on my regular phone - not my amplified phone - for over an hour. My voice was pretty good and she was amazed! YEAH!

Why Be Normal?

Hi All!

I have finally gotten another episode of my podcast online! Check it out at the top of this page or go to Learning to Live With SD.

This episode is about coming to terms with my SD voice as being my "normal" voice. I never wanted to be normal - that would be boring. I spent the majority of my life trying to be totally different from everyone else. Why, I am thinking, should my voice issues be any different? I like my SD voice - it is unique. If I talked "normally" I wouldn't stand out in the crowd.

True, I hate my voice at times (like this morning when I didn't want to talk at all!) but, over all, I am getting used to it. It is becoming "normal."

Then again - why be "normal?"

Trisha

World Voice Day

Hi All!

Happy World Voice Day! I did a podcast and tried to link it directly to this site but . . . not so good! If you would like to listen to my podcast, go to the link at the top of the blog or go to Learning To Live With SD.

What is World Voice Day you might ask? It is a day created to help people learn how to take care of their voices and to raise awareness of vocal disorders (like Spasmodic Dysphonia???).

Many people are in professions where they rely heavily on their voices - teachers, clergy, salespeople, receptionists, courtroom attorneys, telemarketers, and politicians. These people (and more) use their voices constantly and most don't think about vocal health until something goes wrong with their voice. They might push their voice through periods of hoarseness and abuse their voices by talking for long stretches of time, letting their chords get dehydrated, and talking loudly to compensate for background noise. All of these things can contribute to vocal problems.

The American Academy of Otolarnygology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has created several fact sheets to educate people about how to take care of their voices, how the voice works, and vocal health at every age. You can find this information at www.entnet.org and then click on "Patients."

Take it from someone who knows what it is like to not have a voice - you don't want to hurt your voice! Take a minute and investigate the information on how to take care of your voice!

Trisha

A Morning Walk

Hi All!

I just got in from my morning walk. It is a nice rainy day here but luckily I didn't get wet! I began walking on the suggestion of my speech therapist as a way to improve my breathing. Yes, despite all the years of admonitions from various doctors about getting more exercise, I finally started walking regularly due to my SD! I guess that is a silver lining to the SD cloud!

Anyway - I now walk one or two times a day. Once in the morning and once after dinner with my husband. Of course getting him to walk took a little ingenuity! We live near a golf course and he agreed to walk with me if we could go hunt for golf balls on the course at the end of our walk. No- neither of us plays golf - he just likes to find golf balls. Our house is filled with them now!

I do see a lot of breathing improvement due to the walking and am now working on getting some weight off. I have lost 3 whole pounds so far! Woo-hoo! What a big deal. I have been walking since January!

I use the time on my walk to listen to podcasts. There is just so much good stuff out there to listen to and I don't have time during the day. If I listen while I walk I know I will have at least 45 minutes to listen every morning. I don't use the iPod when I walk with my huaband because I always think we will talk. Sometimes we do but more often - we don't. Even thought I do listen to my podcasts while I walk, I can still hear the sounds of nature (my mother thinks I don't appreciate the birds, etc. because of the ipod!). In fact today there were a lot of birds flying around - probably gorging on the bugs last night's rains brought out. I had a great time watching a swallow pas-de-deux this morning. I stopped and watched the birds do this intricate "dance" chasing bugs. It was beautiful. It is hard to believe that the birds can change directions so quickly!

Also - I stopped down the road from my house to listen to a neighbor playing the piano. It is neat to stand on the sidewalk and "eavesdrop" on the music. Ah - the wonders of a good morning walk!

Trisha

New Podcast Episode!

Hi All!

I am trying out yet another "new" thing on my blog! Hopefully, I will be adding a direct link to my podcast so that you can listen directly from this page. We will see what happens! If my effort fails, you can go to my podcast site at Learning to Live With SD and check it out!

Trisha

Okay - so I don't have the direct feed working right yet! It is a bit more complicated than the whole adding a picture. Click on the link above and it will take you to my podcast. T