Hi All!
Well, yesterday I worked at my therapist's office (and got PAID!!!) again. It was a good time. L, the real secretary came in for about an hour and a half to help me figure out a few things and she looked good even though she was horribly nervous. She finds out the results of her most recent scans (for cancer) today. I am hoping for the best.
When I got home from "work," I had a headache and no matter how many aspirin I took, it just didn't seem to go away. Luckily, it wasn't a migraine! Hubby was a sweetheart and made dinner (it was only a frozen pizza but still . . . the thought was there!) so that I could lie down for a bit. The headache just stayed around. After I ate I started feeling nauseous. What fun.
The whole fatigue - well, that has been going on for a couple of days now so that is "normal operating procedure" right now. However, add the headache which won't stop and the nausea and you have quite a combo.
I slept in this morning and didn't walk. I got up to IM with my mom and to jot a quick blog. I think I am heading back to bed. I am supposed to have lunch with a friend but I just don't think I am up to it!
Hubby had this kind of thing on Monday and slept the whole day and then was much better. I hope I have the same thing and that it will be gone soon!
Trisha
Voice Update: In between working yesterday I had a speech session. My voice is still good but I am doing this weird thing where I let out too much air before initiating the sound. I don't even know I do that! Okay - I know NOW! I guess I do it when I get tense about something. I am working on that. I also got in trouble for not doing my massage enough. She could tell because everything was a bit tighter than last week. I will have to step up my exercises (maybe after sleeping today to get better)!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Testing, Testing . . .
Hi All!
Last night as I once again tossed and turned searching for the ever elusive sleep, I started thinking about all of the testing I have done in my life. Spelling tests, math tests, government tests, midterms, finals, ACTs, Miller's Analogy Test, teacher certification tests, personality tests, aptitude tests. The list just goes on.
What is up with all of these tests? Are they really a vital part of our society? Do they actually do any good?
For example, in the course of my fifteen years in the classroom I have taken about fifteen different personality/learning style tests in the course of all of my staff trainings. On each of those different tests my personality came out different depending on how I was feeling that day. Was I feeling all warm and fuzzy? Did I want to be left alone? Had I just finished reading something that made me feel intellectual? I also learned very quickly that I could skew the tests to make my results come out the way I wanted them.
If I can do that - how accurate are the darn tests?
I remember one test in particular early in my Texas education days. I was working for a principal who really though I was pretty anti-social and - I guess I was if you consider not wanting to chat about the latest celebrity gossip over lunch anti-social. Anyway, we had an in-service training day and it started out with - you guessed it - a personality test. Surprisingly, I came out as a "blue" personality which meant that I was creative and warm and basically, "fuzzy." I thought my principal was going to flip out when he saw my results!
I walked over to that group of "fuzzy" people thinking "Oh great! Now I get to be with these people all day!" How "fuzzy" was that? I looked longingly over to the group of "green" people who were "loners" and really wanted to join their group. But, that was what the principal would expect so . . . off I went with the "fuzzies."
(Going off on a tangent, I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that I was in a sorority in college whose nickname was "The Fuzzies!" And if you are anti-sorority, just remember that I went to a very, very small college where basically all social activity was fraternity/sorority related. AND it wasn't one of those air-headed, blond sororities either. We were the smart, ugly ones! Just kidding! Well, sort of!)
Another memorable test was the Miller's Analogy test that I had to take to enroll in graduate school. It was a test where they gave you one hundred incomplete analogies (apple is to tree as grape is to ______) which you got to complete - from the list of choices given. I was a little nervous going into the test. I went to the testing center with one of my friends who was also interesting in going to grad school. We went in and sat down and finished all of the normal pre-test junk. Then, the real fun began.
And I do mean fun! Well, it was fun for ME!
The people who had created this test must have had a good sense of humor because it was full of funny things. Things like the question for number eight had to do with the suffix octo - which means eight. The tenth question had to do with decades - which are groups of ten years. I was having a blast finding all of these little "hidden" connections!
I finished the test and went outside to wait for my friend. I was still chuckling from all of the clever little touches in the test. When my friend came out - she was NOT chuckling and though I was absolutely insane for thinking the test was funny!
I guess I am just weird that way!
Trisha
Voice Update: Okay - frustrating! My voice is still giving me trouble in the morning when I walk. I am being good and doing my exercises and massage and all of that good stuff but . . . I still find myself having a lot of breaks and hesitations in the morning. I wonder if my voice just hasn't woken up yet. I will continue my exercises and massage and see what my therapist thinks today at my appointment.
Last night as I once again tossed and turned searching for the ever elusive sleep, I started thinking about all of the testing I have done in my life. Spelling tests, math tests, government tests, midterms, finals, ACTs, Miller's Analogy Test, teacher certification tests, personality tests, aptitude tests. The list just goes on.
What is up with all of these tests? Are they really a vital part of our society? Do they actually do any good?
For example, in the course of my fifteen years in the classroom I have taken about fifteen different personality/learning style tests in the course of all of my staff trainings. On each of those different tests my personality came out different depending on how I was feeling that day. Was I feeling all warm and fuzzy? Did I want to be left alone? Had I just finished reading something that made me feel intellectual? I also learned very quickly that I could skew the tests to make my results come out the way I wanted them.
If I can do that - how accurate are the darn tests?
I remember one test in particular early in my Texas education days. I was working for a principal who really though I was pretty anti-social and - I guess I was if you consider not wanting to chat about the latest celebrity gossip over lunch anti-social. Anyway, we had an in-service training day and it started out with - you guessed it - a personality test. Surprisingly, I came out as a "blue" personality which meant that I was creative and warm and basically, "fuzzy." I thought my principal was going to flip out when he saw my results!
I walked over to that group of "fuzzy" people thinking "Oh great! Now I get to be with these people all day!" How "fuzzy" was that? I looked longingly over to the group of "green" people who were "loners" and really wanted to join their group. But, that was what the principal would expect so . . . off I went with the "fuzzies."
(Going off on a tangent, I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that I was in a sorority in college whose nickname was "The Fuzzies!" And if you are anti-sorority, just remember that I went to a very, very small college where basically all social activity was fraternity/sorority related. AND it wasn't one of those air-headed, blond sororities either. We were the smart, ugly ones! Just kidding! Well, sort of!)
Another memorable test was the Miller's Analogy test that I had to take to enroll in graduate school. It was a test where they gave you one hundred incomplete analogies (apple is to tree as grape is to ______) which you got to complete - from the list of choices given. I was a little nervous going into the test. I went to the testing center with one of my friends who was also interesting in going to grad school. We went in and sat down and finished all of the normal pre-test junk. Then, the real fun began.
And I do mean fun! Well, it was fun for ME!
The people who had created this test must have had a good sense of humor because it was full of funny things. Things like the question for number eight had to do with the suffix octo - which means eight. The tenth question had to do with decades - which are groups of ten years. I was having a blast finding all of these little "hidden" connections!
I finished the test and went outside to wait for my friend. I was still chuckling from all of the clever little touches in the test. When my friend came out - she was NOT chuckling and though I was absolutely insane for thinking the test was funny!
I guess I am just weird that way!
Trisha
Voice Update: Okay - frustrating! My voice is still giving me trouble in the morning when I walk. I am being good and doing my exercises and massage and all of that good stuff but . . . I still find myself having a lot of breaks and hesitations in the morning. I wonder if my voice just hasn't woken up yet. I will continue my exercises and massage and see what my therapist thinks today at my appointment.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Harry Potter and Dr. Horrible
Hi All!
Well, I finally finished reading all seven of the Harry Potter books. I must say that I am a bit sad that they are finished. I really enjoyed reading the books and became very involved in the story line and the lives of the characters. It is a well written series.
Kudos to J.K. Rowling!
My only real trouble is that now that I am finished reading the entire series, I don't want to go back to reading my other books. They all seem . . .well . . . a bit boring. They (and by they I mean the stock of books I am working through from my Grandmother's house. They are older books and lean heavily towards the Victorian era. Okay - the one I am reading now is set during the Revolutionary War but still. . . ) don't have wizards or flying cars or giants or things like that. *sigh*
I suppose I will just have to get used to the "real" world and keep reading on!
In related news, I just found J.K. Rowling's official website and, while I have just briefly examined it, it looks really neat. I will be exploring more after I finish this blog. The first page you enter looks like the top of her desk and has all kinds of things to click on for the different pages. My favorite is the eraser which leads to a room. I don't know what is behind the door yet but I will find out soon!
A couple of days ago I was perusing the blog In The Gutter and came across Dr. Horrible. This is a video podcast like no other. It is a mini-movie/musical and is very well done and hysterical! I highly suggest going and checking it out. You can watch it free or you can purchase it from iTunes for something like $4.00. I was cheap and just watched it online for free.
Click on the poster to be taken to Dr. Horrible's site!
Do you see a familiar face in there? Yes? It is Doogie Howser all grown up and he can sing!
Trisha
Voice Update: I did my exercises yesterday like a good girl. This morning my voice still started out a bit breathy but did work itself out pretty quickly. I will continue to do my exercises and massage - yes, I did that yesterday too! - and see if the improvement keeps coming. Of course, I don't know why I am complaining - my voice is still a hundred billion times better than it was even four months ago.
Well, I finally finished reading all seven of the Harry Potter books. I must say that I am a bit sad that they are finished. I really enjoyed reading the books and became very involved in the story line and the lives of the characters. It is a well written series.
Kudos to J.K. Rowling!
My only real trouble is that now that I am finished reading the entire series, I don't want to go back to reading my other books. They all seem . . .well . . . a bit boring. They (and by they I mean the stock of books I am working through from my Grandmother's house. They are older books and lean heavily towards the Victorian era. Okay - the one I am reading now is set during the Revolutionary War but still. . . ) don't have wizards or flying cars or giants or things like that. *sigh*
I suppose I will just have to get used to the "real" world and keep reading on!
In related news, I just found J.K. Rowling's official website and, while I have just briefly examined it, it looks really neat. I will be exploring more after I finish this blog. The first page you enter looks like the top of her desk and has all kinds of things to click on for the different pages. My favorite is the eraser which leads to a room. I don't know what is behind the door yet but I will find out soon!
A couple of days ago I was perusing the blog In The Gutter and came across Dr. Horrible. This is a video podcast like no other. It is a mini-movie/musical and is very well done and hysterical! I highly suggest going and checking it out. You can watch it free or you can purchase it from iTunes for something like $4.00. I was cheap and just watched it online for free.
Click on the poster to be taken to Dr. Horrible's site!
Do you see a familiar face in there? Yes? It is Doogie Howser all grown up and he can sing!
Trisha
Voice Update: I did my exercises yesterday like a good girl. This morning my voice still started out a bit breathy but did work itself out pretty quickly. I will continue to do my exercises and massage - yes, I did that yesterday too! - and see if the improvement keeps coming. Of course, I don't know why I am complaining - my voice is still a hundred billion times better than it was even four months ago.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Star Trek and Sham-wow!
Hi All!
Hopefully Blogger and my Internet are cooperating today so I can get back into my normal schedule!
Last night, before we went to sleep, Hubby was flipping through the TV stations (as usual) and he happened to hit one of his favorites - Star Trek.
Now, I am normally a fan of Star Trek. You would never call me a "Trekkie" but I like the show well enough. Hubby and I enjoy making fun of the fact that Captain Kirk always "gets" the good looking female alien/federation official/crew member. What a "smooth operator!"
Last night, however, the show offended me. It was an episode called "The Empath." We didn't watch the entire episode but the thing started out with Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy at some outpost looking for missing workers. The three were then transported - against their will - to some weird dark place. In this dark place, reclining on the only furniture in the place, was a beautiful "woman." Okay - Spock pointed out that she wasn't human - just humanoid.
This beautiful "woman" didn't say a word - she just looked up at Kirk with huge, doe eyes. Kirk turned to McCoy and asked what was wrong with her. McCoy ran his scanner thing over her and said "She's a mute. She doesn't have vocal cords." Poor thing. I can sympathise!
Anyway - here is the part that offended me. Kirk responded to McCoy by saying, "But how will she understand us?"
Excuse me? Did he just imply that because she was mute - not able to speak - that she wouldn't be able to understand them?
How are the two connected?
Just because someone can't TALK doesn't mean that they are STUPID!
This hit a nerve with me because I have met with the same attitude due to my SD. When my voice was really bad people treated me like I was not intelligent! What ignorance! One thing has nothing to do with the other! ARRRRGHHH!
Okay - moving on. Have you seen the commercials on TV for the Sham-WOW!? I want one of these things. They are the amazing shamis. They can soak up way more than a regular towel and can soak spills right out of carpets - including any that gets under the carpet. With virtually no work!
Each time I see that commercial I tell Hubby that I want one. I mean, how can I live without such a useful tool? Olympic swimmers use them to dry off instantly. You can dry off your car with one. Use one for a bathmat. Use one to drain dishes. They are wonder things.
To be honest. I really want one so I can see if it can really do the things that they show in the commercial.
Can you say "Deal or Dud?"
Trisha
Voice Update: I noticed my voice was a bit hesitant this morning when talking to C and Mrs. N. I am not sure why. Oh well. I guess the exercises will get to the root of the problem. I really need to get back to the massage though!
Hopefully Blogger and my Internet are cooperating today so I can get back into my normal schedule!
Last night, before we went to sleep, Hubby was flipping through the TV stations (as usual) and he happened to hit one of his favorites - Star Trek.
Now, I am normally a fan of Star Trek. You would never call me a "Trekkie" but I like the show well enough. Hubby and I enjoy making fun of the fact that Captain Kirk always "gets" the good looking female alien/federation official/crew member. What a "smooth operator!"
Last night, however, the show offended me. It was an episode called "The Empath." We didn't watch the entire episode but the thing started out with Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy at some outpost looking for missing workers. The three were then transported - against their will - to some weird dark place. In this dark place, reclining on the only furniture in the place, was a beautiful "woman." Okay - Spock pointed out that she wasn't human - just humanoid.
This beautiful "woman" didn't say a word - she just looked up at Kirk with huge, doe eyes. Kirk turned to McCoy and asked what was wrong with her. McCoy ran his scanner thing over her and said "She's a mute. She doesn't have vocal cords." Poor thing. I can sympathise!
Anyway - here is the part that offended me. Kirk responded to McCoy by saying, "But how will she understand us?"
Excuse me? Did he just imply that because she was mute - not able to speak - that she wouldn't be able to understand them?
How are the two connected?
Just because someone can't TALK doesn't mean that they are STUPID!
This hit a nerve with me because I have met with the same attitude due to my SD. When my voice was really bad people treated me like I was not intelligent! What ignorance! One thing has nothing to do with the other! ARRRRGHHH!
Okay - moving on. Have you seen the commercials on TV for the Sham-WOW!? I want one of these things. They are the amazing shamis. They can soak up way more than a regular towel and can soak spills right out of carpets - including any that gets under the carpet. With virtually no work!
Each time I see that commercial I tell Hubby that I want one. I mean, how can I live without such a useful tool? Olympic swimmers use them to dry off instantly. You can dry off your car with one. Use one for a bathmat. Use one to drain dishes. They are wonder things.
To be honest. I really want one so I can see if it can really do the things that they show in the commercial.
Can you say "Deal or Dud?"
Trisha
Voice Update: I noticed my voice was a bit hesitant this morning when talking to C and Mrs. N. I am not sure why. Oh well. I guess the exercises will get to the root of the problem. I really need to get back to the massage though!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Blogger or Internet Issues
Hi All!
Just a quick note for now since Hubby is prowling around waiting for the computer - again!
I wasn't able to post yesterday because of some weird thing happening between blogger and my computer. I couldn't even read blogs! Shocking, I know!
Anyway - anytime I tried to do something in Blogger my Internet told me it couldn't load that page or blog or whatever. Even though it would load the page first and THEN tell me it couldn't load it. Right after telling me the "good news," it would shift to the wonderful "Page not found" message. Fun, fun!
It seems to be better today but my blogging time is short due to Hubby's impatience! Men!
I promise to get back on schedule tomorrow!
Trisha
Just a quick note for now since Hubby is prowling around waiting for the computer - again!
I wasn't able to post yesterday because of some weird thing happening between blogger and my computer. I couldn't even read blogs! Shocking, I know!
Anyway - anytime I tried to do something in Blogger my Internet told me it couldn't load that page or blog or whatever. Even though it would load the page first and THEN tell me it couldn't load it. Right after telling me the "good news," it would shift to the wonderful "Page not found" message. Fun, fun!
It seems to be better today but my blogging time is short due to Hubby's impatience! Men!
I promise to get back on schedule tomorrow!
Trisha
Friday, August 1, 2008
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
An Award, Rain, and Hubby
Hi All!
Coffee Bean was such a sweetheart and gave me this award. It says "You are the sun on my rainy day, thank U."
Thanks Coffee Bean!
Like normal, I am just in from walking with C and Mrs. N. It was very muggy out today - it rained yesterday (I know! Twice in one week!) and so it was humid and then it was trying to rain the entire time we walked. We were treated to some really neat lightning and thunder shows.
By the middle of our walk we were hoping it would rain on us to cool us off. There was NO breeze today and that makes for a very, very sweaty walk. Of course C never really sweats (!!!) and Mrs. N only sweats a bit. Then, there I am sweating my way through my shirt by the time I get home. Nice!
My lunch yesterday at the Magnolia Cafe was very nice. The food was great and the desserts . . . wow! They were amazing! My only "beef" with the place is that it was rather noisy and that isn't too good for those of us with SD. I managed okay though. There were a few times I had to repeat myself and I think my friend did a bit of lip reading but hey - that is what you get with an SD friend!
Hubby came home last night. He had been at a conference for his work since Monday. I was looking forward to his return because, let's face it, I love the guy! Then, he came in. The first words out of his mouth were "Did you drive my car?"
Well, duh! He took my car to the conference and I am not a hermit so . . .
Anyway. The next thing out of his mouth - "Did you park it THAT way?"
Again - duh! I certainly didn't have the valet park it!
The "conversation" continued:
Hubby: "Did you notice how close you are to the cardboard boxes?"
Me: (crickets)
Hubby: "Cardboard can be unforgiving you know."
Me: (louder crickets)
Hubby: "You always complain about the way I park and then you park like THAT?"
Me: (silent stare)
Hubby: "I mean, you had the whole garage!"
Me: "You wanted me to park in the middle of the garage when I knew you were coming home today and would need to put my car away?"
Hubby: "I am just saying . . ."
Me: (silently waiting to hear what he was "just saying.")
Hubby: "You have to be careful when parking my car. I am always careful when I park YOUR car. If I park it wrong, you let me know! Cars can be damaged by cardboard you know. . . "
Me: (grabbing car keys and storming out to the garage to pull the car out of the garage and to leave it in the center of the driveway)
Hubby: (when I was on my way into the house again) "You heard that when you got in, didn't you? I told you that you were too close . . .(rest of sentence lost due to me entering house and throwing keys across room).
Me: (going up to our bonus room to avoid any more conversation)
Hubby: "Did I say something to upset you?"
Me: (crickets again)
Just what was he thinking?
We did eventually talk this out again and I tried to tell him that there might be a different way to greet me after he has been gone all week than with a passive aggressive conversation. He doesn't think he IS passive aggressive. Yeah, right.
He is lucky I love him so much or . . . "One day Alice, POW! Right to the moon!"
Trisha
Voice Update: Good but still tired. I don't feel like talking today. That isn't an unusual feeling for me these days. Having SD and talking can be such a struggle - it wears you out! I am still doing exercises and reading out loud. I have fallen a bit behind in the massage area (No - I haven't forgotten about the podcast - I just have been too lazy to get it edited and online!) but . . . I have good intentions to get back on track today!
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