Thursday, June 10, 2010

My Dance Lesson

Hi All!

Yesterday I had my first dance lesson* after a "hiatus" of about six weeks. Now, my partner** and I have been practicing pretty much daily during the hiatus but, we haven't exactly been doing everything that our instructor*** had told us to do during our last lesson.

Our dance^ has been going pretty smoothly lately. We rarely step on each other's toes or knock heads while changing directions. True, once in a while my partner gets a bit "independent" and decides to show me that I am not the only one who can lead the steps.

Anyway, the instructor was impressed with our work during the six week break from lessons. She did have a few minor corrections to make (like I need to do more massage and I need to work on a couple specific steps^^) but, overall, she was happy with our progress. In fact, she has reduced our lessons from twice a month to once a month. Yeah!

*Speech Therapy
**Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia
***Susan (SLP)
^Living with SD
^^ Working on the sounds which still give me the most difficulty by focusing on the sounds after the difficult sounds.

Okay. If you deciphered all of that, you know how my latest speech appointment went. Now, I would like to address the reason I call my living with SD as a "dance" instead of a struggle, a journey, or anything like that.

The idea of living with SD for the rest of my life was very overwhelming for me. I struggled to "beat" SD and this resulted in a less than ideal situation. I soon realized that each and every time I attempted to "subdue" SD or overpower it, it would come back even more ferociously to "kick my rear."

I would work and work and struggle and then find myself taking the proverbial "one step forward two steps back." It seemed like all of my hard work was turning out to be worthless. And then, Susan sat me down for one of her "talks (she does this occasionally when I need it!)."

Susan told me that I was never going to "beat" or "subdue" SD because it was stronger than I could ever be. True, I am very, very stubborn but, SD is even more so. Each time I tried to beat SD it came back because, in reality, I was never going to completely beat SD. I just wasn't. It was here to stay and I needed to deal with that fact. Susan suggested considering living with SD not as a battle but rather, as a dance.

This dance has two distinct participants, me and SD, who need to learn to dance in harmony with each other without stepping on each others toes or trying to take the lead too strongly. If I could learn how to work WITH SD instead of trying to work AGAINST it, Susan assured me that my life would be much happier.

I went home after this little talk and I pondered what I had heard. Work WITH SD? Shouldn't I try to eradicate it? Smash it into dust? This dance stuff just seemed like crazy talk . . . at first. And then, it all started to make sense.

Any major relationship in life is more of a dance than a battle. Think about marriage. You work WITH your spouse (most of the time!) to live together. When things are out of sync (stepping on toes) life isn't too happy but, once you get back "in step" with each other - harmony and happiness.

So - dance with SD. I decided that the philosophy of dancing WITH SD instead of struggling against it just made sense. I knew that SD was incurable so I was stuck with it and learning to live with it just seemed to make the most of the situation. After all, struggling hadn't gotten me too far up to this point so there really wasn't too much to lose now, was there?

Over the past couple of years I have been learning the steps. SD is a demanding partner. If I don't show up for practice each and every day by doing my exercises and massage and now, reading out loud, SD gets cranky and tries to take the lead in my life by making my voice worse. The minute I decide to strike out on my own for a solo, SD is right there pulling me back and reminding me that my time for soloing is now past and that SD is here to stay. As with every dance, and with every dance partner, there are things which make life easier - I know the kinds of words which SD causes me to mess up the most so I work on those or I think of ways to avoid them. There are situations where SD is just going to show up more than in others (noisy background, large crowds, when I am nervous or upset or tired) and I make adjustments for this (amplification, relying on Hubby more, moving to a quieter venue, asking for music to be turned down, etc.).

Considering my life with SD as a dance has helped me to work with the disorder to find my voice again. Yes, there are times when my "partner" and I are at odds but, once I get my head right (somehow, SD is never the one at fault - imagine that!), we are back in step and dancing along smoothly.

Yes, my experience with SD is a dance. One for which I will never stop rehearsing but one which, when done well, is very rewarding!

Trisha

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Knock-Out Roses and Hidden Kitties

Hi All!

Today has started out much cooler (okay - 3 degrees cooler) than yesterday. True, the humidity was still at 81% but that will get lower during the day (as the temperature gets higher, of course!). My swim got off to an earlier start than I have been getting because I just need more time in that lovely pool! I headed out the door around 7:00 A.M. this morning and had a nice, leisurely time in the pool (after I finished my 23 laps) floating and relaxing before heading home.

I decided to show some of the Knock-Out roses so that those of you who aren't familiar with them can see . . .

They really are more beautiful when they have their first bloom since there are no "dead" flowers on the bushes. The flowers are still nice throughout the summer though!


Here is a close up of one particularly nice bud on a plant next to the pool.

It is nice to have such colorful plants around the pool. I only wish they were planted in places where I could use them as markers to keep me from hitting my head on the side when I am doing the back-stroke!

Yesterday I had fun at the grocery store tinged with a little frustration. Our local Kroger's is smallish and this leads to limited supplies of things. For example, in the cream cheese section, they started carrying individual packets of cream cheese (nice for lunch boxes, etc.) but to do that they had to quit carrying my favorite kind of cream cheese - veggie. Also, they have about a zillion bottles of ranch dressing in all brands but only two different blue cheese choices, one of which is NASTY!

I am thinking I might try a grocery trip to the Super Target down the way - just to take a break from Kroger's. We will see how I feel the next time I head out to shop for food!

Hubby and I had a fun time playing Wii last night. I am trying to get Hubby to be a bit more active so I am conning him into playing Wii and walking with me (it was WAY too hot and humid to walk last night!). Last night we played Mario and Sonic Olympics (or something like that). Hubby beat me at table tennis and then I beat him in the javelin toss.

Next up was bowling - which I am horrible at both in real-life and on the Wii! We finished up with a boxing bout. Hubby won by KO. Yes, I went down and went down hard! Luckily, it was only a game.

I am still amazed at just how sweaty you can get playing a video game!

It was a really, really nice evening.

I have speech today (I checked on Monday just to make sure!) and after that I am planning on heading to the college to get some time in at the ASL lab. Hopefully, it won't be busy so that I can get some time in with an assistant - if not, I guess I will get some receptive practice in by watching a video or two.

Tomorrow I will fill you in on what all I actually get done today! In the meantime, I think I will share this with you. Yesterday, when I got done with putting the groceries away I couldn't find the kitties. Odd.

I walked back and forth past this a couple times . . . I didn't notice anything at first but then I took a closer look.

Miss Cleo was napping in the house and didn't show up at first in the dark (I woke her up with my flash).



Then I heard a slight rustle and looked down to find where Skor was hiding.
dfg
Have a fabulous Wednesday!
gh
Trisha
hj
Voice Update: Doing well (in my opinion) but, I will be able to tell you what Susan thinks tomorrow!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Yesterday's Woes

Hi All!

You may have noticed that I didn't blog yesterday. Was I sick? Did I have a headache? Was I at the doctor's? Did Skor chew through the computer cables?

NO!

Blogger wouldn't let me make any changes to my blog yesterday. I could get onto my blog, sign in, and read your blogs but publish a new blog myself - no dice!

Needless to say, I was a bit frustrated by this lack of "cooperation" on Blogger's end of things. I had things I wanted to say!

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*whew* Okay. Now I feel better.

As you may or may not know, I live in Northern Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (That is really what it is called here!). Many people hear that and comment about the heat. Yes, it gets HOT here. The next thing people say is invariably, "But it is a dry heat, right?" Ha ha ha ha ha! Dry? I don't think so!

This morning, when I woke up and glanced at Hubby's weather station, it was 77 degrees with 81% humidity! 81%! That, my friends, is like walking into a sauna! True, sauna's are hotter than 77 degrees but . . . give it a few hours and we will be in near sauna temps here as well. Dry heat - no way! You walk out the door and are instantly sweaty. It is a lovely, lovely feeling!

It is a good thing that I wear my swimsuit when I head out for my morning walk these days because I end up drenched even before I get into the pool!

Bunnies run around our neighborhood like little little hairballs. Normally, they are cute. They eat the weeds that grow in our grass and we thank them for that. They give Skor some good entertainment when he gets a look at them hopping in the yard. Good all around, right?

Wrong!

The bunnies have an interesting homing device which allows them to home into my Cone Flowers! These poor things haven't much of a chance with those bunnies nibbling on them! I have tried different deterrents with varying levels of success. First I tried sprinkling the plants with hot pepper powder. That foiled the bunnies until they apparently developed a taste for spicy foods. I tried garlic powder. Again - it worked for a while until the bunnies decided they liked the spiced leaves. I tried spraying the plants with soapy water and the bunnies didn't like that too well until they figured out to "snip" off the leaves and dunk them into the bird bath to rinse them off. Really!

Well - I finally went to the Depot and got some fencing. After it hung out in the garage for a month or so I actually got it out yesterday and fashioned a fence around the Cone Flowers. We will see if the Bunnies figure a way around this too! Keep your fingers crossed!

Hubby was anxious the entire time I was working with the fencing. He was certain that I would kill myself on the wiring. Well, I finished the entire thing without even a scratch!

Then, in the evening, I was trying to clip a matt from Skor (who doesn't really matt except for under his "arms.") when I managed to slice my right index finger on the scissors! Now, how in the world did I manage THAT? I didn't even know I had done it until I looked and blood was dripping off my finger.

I showed Hubby and he just rolled his eyes and left the room (after bringing me a tissue). Wasn't that sweet??

Hopefully today will be better! I am going shopping for groceries - one of my favorite things in the entire world! (NOT!)- and then doing some work on some ASL stuff.

Tomorrow I have speech (I thought it had been rescheduled for yesterday but apparently, I was mistaken!) and then I will swing by the ASL lab for a bit to work on some skills I need to "brush up" on.

Here is hoping your yesterday, today, and tomorrow are wonderful!

Trisha

Voice Update: Well, I am through the Chronicles and Ezra and on to Nehemiah. More names. *sigh* My voice sounds pretty good even though my neck is a bit "crunchy" and I am sure Susan won't be too happy about that. I will tell you more about things are going after my appointment tomorrow!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Saturday - What a Day!

Hi All!

This will be short and sweet - so to speak - because I am dealing with a "headache hangover." Yesterday I developed another migraine (what is going on with these things lately???) and took meds which allowed me to be almost human during the evening. However, the medicine also makes me feel "hungover" the next day - today!

Unfortunately, that meant that when I woke up this morning to go walking and swimming, I could barely move my head. So - it was back to bed for a while. I think a swim would have felt good but the effort of actually getting there just seemed too much this morning!

In fact, I doubt if I would have made it out of bed if it weren't for Skor's dogged determination that I get up to watch him devour his kibble. What a "good" kitty he is!

Since I don't have anything major on my schedule today I am hoping to get back to sleep to vanquish this horrible "hangover" feeling.

I hope your weekend gets off to a better start than mine has - I just spotted Bunny munching on my Cone Flowers!

Trisha

Voice Update: I didn't read yesterday because I could barely move - let alone read. I should have speech on Monday but, I didn't get a call reminding me about the appointment so I am doubting that it is really going to happen. I guess I will have to call before I leave the house to make sure I really do have an appointment. It has been more than a month since I have seen Susan and I am a bit concerned about the "crunchiness" of my neck. But - I guess that is the way the old ball bounces, right?

Friday, June 4, 2010

Balloons - on a Plant!

Hi All!

Happy Friday! Yesterday I didn't blog because I had to go and get a mammogram - fun, fun, fun! Anyway, that messed up my entire schedule (it was at 8:15 in the morning) and I just can't make myself blog in the middle of the day for some reason!

I finished reading the book Flea sent me, Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. It is a very good book and I am looking forward to the next book which is due out this Fall. The book follows the life of a mother from her beginnings in Switzerland to her own motherhood in California as well as HER daughter's life. There is a lot of strife between the mother and daughter which is based in the mother's background. Despite the stress caused by the rocky relationship, this book is full of hope and love and determination. This was a book that I had problems putting down. Despite the fact that it is rather thick, I read the entire thing in less than two days and then wished it hadn't ended so soon!

While I was swimming this morning, I looked up (between laps) and realized that there is a Balloon Flower plant among the landscape. It was blooming and it inspired me to take some pictures of my own Balloon Flower plant!


The plant is growing to take up all the space between the two shrubs (and of course, they are growing too!) and is much taller than it was last year.


I love the rich purple of the blooms - as well as the fact that they start out as purple "Balloons" before popping open into lovely flowers.

Here is a fuzzy picture of a "balloon" about ready to "pop!"

For some reason, the blooms seem to be clustered in groups of three (this is a different cluster than the first picture). They add such a nice "pop" of color to the front bed.




Here is some video of Skor and his "buddy," the squirrel.

Trisha

Voice Update: I am doing pretty good. I am not doing my massage as much as I should but . . . hey - I am getting there! I finally finished 1 Chronicles and into 2Chronicles. All of those Biblical names are really getting to me!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

An Unwelcome Visitor and My Latest Reading

Hi All!

Skor has been busy most evenings around here with this unwelcome visitor.





Luckily, the squirrel (or it might be two who alternate for the evening shift) hasn't figured out the bird feeder yet. He (or she) has done some chewing on the wire holding the bird feeder up though!
I would love to get a photo of this little bugger when he/she is just hanging by his/her feet from the gutter without touching the feeder. However, each time I get the camera ready, the squirrel retreats to the roof!



Here are the latest books I have read. As per my new habit, I won't tell you about all of them but, I decided I would tell you all of their titles.




From left to right - Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns; Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts (the third in the Brides series); Hating Valentine's Day by Allison Rushby; Undue Influence by Steve Martini; Trouble With Angels by Debbie Macomber; Look Closely by Laura Caldwell.


Interestingly, all of these books was what I consider a "good" book. Any of them would be good reads. Undue Influence and Look Closely are about lawyers chasing down facts in unsolved mysteries.

Trouble With Angels is a light read about three angels helping people on earth in their own, peculiar, bumbling way.

Hating Valentine's Day is about a wedding photographer who hates Valentine's Day until she meets someone special.

Savor the Moment is one of Nora Robert's newest books and it is one I enjoyed. This is the third of four chronicling the lives of four best friends who run a wedding establishment. One woman does the planning, one does the pastries, one does the flowers, and one does the photography. This is a good read which departs slightly from the usual Nora Roberts formula. I am looking forward to the fourth book!

Cold Sassy Tree is a work of fiction written from the perspective of a young boy in the south at the turn of the century (the 20th not the 21st!). His family experiences ups and downs and the boy narrates the action. I was leery when I picked this book up but I found that it was a good read and it certainly held my interest. The story is filled with interesting details and the voice of the narrator sounds almost like he is talking only to you.

Well, that is my latest reading. All good books which I would recommend to you.

Trisha

P.S. I just updated my records and from May 31, 2009 to May 31, 2010, I have read 59 books. A slow year for me!

Voice Update: Still doing okay. I got back on the reading "horse" last night and am struggling my way through 1Chronicles. All those Biblical names!!!!! I think I am past most of the genealogy and into the stories now though. I think my voice is pretty strong now. I am concentrating more on trying to get those last few sounds worked out!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Mellow Pictures for a Mellow Mood

Hi All!

My morning swim, walk, and watering routine has left me feeling mellow. Happy and a bit tired (you know that feeling after you have been swimming) and just . . . . mellow.

To honor that feeling I decided to share some "mellow" pictures with you. I took these during the last "Spelunk" that Hubby and I undertook.















Weren't those mellow? I hope I keep this feeling for a while!
Have a super week!
xfgj
Trisha
ghj
Voice Update: I was a bad girl and didn't do my reading this weekend. On Saturday, I figured that I talked enough with my friend Donna on the way to and from the musical that I didn't need to read. On Sunday and Monday . . . I was just plain lazy. My voice is doing okay - nothing stellar but pretty darn good for someone with SD!